Overview
Alicante is situated on the east coast of Spain and
is the centre of the popular Costa Blanca holiday region. Although
Mediterranean in style, Alicante also has an African flavour with
women clad in caftans and hawkers selling African carvings along
the waterfront and esplanades.
Alicante's historical central district is filled with
Baroque buildings, bearing testimony to the city's rich history and
former status as a major seaport. The main thoroughfare of the city
is the Rambla, lined with palm trees, outdoor cafes and ice-cream
parlours serving the unusual local drink called horchata,
made with almonds.
There are shops aplenty, parks and gardens,
marble-paved plazas, and the broad Explanada d'Espanya encircling
the yacht harbour with its mosaic promenade. Visitors come to
Alicante mainly for the beaches, particularly San Juan which is
surrounded by attractive villas, hotels, and restaurants.
With a resident population of more than 300,000, the
low season doesn't seem to affect Alicante as much as purpose-built
holiday resorts like nearby Benidorm, and no matter what time of
year you choose to visit, Alicante will be alive with music, food,
and entertainment.
With a large variety of bars, nightclubs, and
cocktail lounges scattered throughout the resort city, visitors
will be hard pressed to name their favourite spot. The bars and
clubs near the marina area seem to be the trendiest and are a hive
of activity with tourists and young locals.
El Barrio, in Alicante's old quarter, also features
some great bars along its narrow streets and party animals looking
to dance until the early hours of the morning will be pleased to
know that most clubs carry on going until sunrise.
The city has an international airport that makes it
the gateway to the nearby package tour resorts such as Benidorm and
Torrevieja, and ensures that the city is crowded with tourists
during the holiday season. Alicante's energy reaches a peak during
the last week of June each year when holiday makers and locals
alike throw themselves into celebrating the unrivalled fiesta of
Saint Joan.