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Travel guide – alicante

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Overview

Alicante, situated on a bay between two capes on the east coast of Spain, is the centre of the popular Costa Blanca holiday resort region. The city has a distinct African flavour with women clad in caftans and hawkers selling African carvings along the waterfront and esplanades. Alicante’s historical central district, though, is filled with Baroque buildings, bearing testimony to the city’s past when it was 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, 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 sports villas, hotels and restaurants. 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 all year round. Alicante’s energy reaches a peak during the last week of June each year when visitors and locals alike throw themselves into celebrating the unrivalled fiesta of Saint Joan.

Attractions in Alicante

Castell de Santa Barbara

The impressive castle that towers over Alicante was originally built by the Carthaginians in 400BC and later used by the Romans and Moors. The fortress is massive, encompassing moats, drawbridges, tunnels, cisterns and dungeons, not to mention a stately tower and keep. From the top of the castle there is a wonderful view of the bay and city. The castle can be accessed in an elevator from the Explanada d'Espanya.

Museu de Arte del Siglo XX Asegurada

In the Plaza de Santa Maria stands Alicante’s oldest building, a former granary dating from 1685. Ironically the city’s oldest building contains its most notable modern art collection, donated by painter and sculptor Eusebio Sempere in 1977. Among the noteworthy paintings on display are those of Dali, Picasso, Calder and Miro.

Elche

For a change from beaches, just 12 miles (19km) inland west of Alicante is Europe’s only palm forest, forming a lush oasis around the city of Elche (Elx). The city boasts several beautiful parks and public gardens. The Parque Municipal is one of the most popular, festooned with palm trees, grassy promenades and children’s playgrounds. Most beautiful is the Hort del Cura, filled with shade trees and bright flower beds. Elche can be reached by an hourly train service from Alicante, or by regular bus connections.

Isla Tabarca

The tiny islet of Tabarca is becoming an increasingly popular day trip destination from Alicante, with its quiet fishing village offering an old fort, several very reasonably priced fresh seafood restaurants, a rocky beach with clear turquoise water, and several coves and tidal pools ideal for bathing. The island lies ten miles south of Alicante and can be reached in an hour by ferry from the dock on Explanada d’Espanya in the city.

Climate

The most popular time to visit the Costa Blanca is between May and October when the weather is guaranteed to be sunny and warm most of the time. The temperature can get up to 104°F (40°C) in August, with the sea at a very comfortable 77°F (25°C). It is too hot and crowded for some during this busy season and many visitors come out over the winter and spring months when it is cooler and risk the odd shower, but many of the bars, restaurants and attractions are closed over this period.

Health

There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised.

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Travel Guide by www.wordtravels.com
Disclaimer: By its very nature much of the information in our travel guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Winter Sunshine Holidays & Globe Media cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.