Alicante

Alicante, with a population of just 300,000 Alicante is not a large city in European terms, but as the capital of the Costa Blanca it is a major travel destination for many European tourists. Over the years this has injected a cosmopolitan feel to the city, while retaining much of its traditional culture.

Alicante Spain

Already well known for being relatively inexpensive, with excellent beaches and a wide choice of accommodation, Alicante has a lot more to offer. A great deal of investment has gone into the preservation of its historical and architectural heritage. There are many fiestas (festivals) throughout the cities calendar, some of which are a real spectacle and well worth a look. The cuisine is another major bonus, with (affordable) good food available everywhere, alongside the middle to high end restaurants. Plenty of shopping opportunities also exist, ranging from souvenirs, local goods and handicrafts, to fashion items and modern shopping centres.

As with many Spanish towns and cities Alicante comes alive at night. Do not be put off by this; there really is something for all ages here. It is after all customary for Spanish families to go for a walk after their evening meal, perhaps to have an ice cream in one of the many Italian ice cream parlours, or to have a drink.

Alicante Tourist Information

Whatever your preference, Alicante and the area surrounding it is bound to have something to offer you.

Alicante, Valencia and Castellón make up the three provinces of the Valencian Community, which covers 23,500 km² and is situated on the eastern coast of the peninsula. The coast is 485 km long and borders with Cataluña in the north and Murcia in the south. Each provincial coast has its own name; la Costa de Azahar in Castellón, la Costa de Valencia in Valencia and la Costa Blanca in Alicante.

The community has a population of 4 million, and the city of Alicante has 300,000 inhabitants.

Alicante Information
Alicante´s history begins around the year 30,000 B.C. when Neanderthals lived here and their cave paintings were found in the province. However, many of todays customs, gastronomy, art and architecture (baroque and gothic) were influenced by the Arab culture, as the Muslims attacked and ruled this area for nine centuries in 714 A.D.

The climate in the area is excellent, with an average temperature of 18°C in winter, and 32°C in the summer, which means that one can enjoy the pleasures of the sea during most of the year, and the beach can be used for sun-bathing even in the winter!

The area’s gastronomy is rich in oils, vegetables, fruits, seafood and rice dishes, which are the main ingredients of the “Mediterranean Diet,” which is considered to be the healthiest in the world. The province is also famous for its sweets. One of the typical products is turrón, which is made out of almonds and honey and is a treat brought down from the Arabic culture. Today it is mostly eaten during the Christmas period, when 13 million tonnes of turrón is enjoyed each year, and 90% of it is devoured during the festive season.

Citrus fruits are the Valencian community´s biggest export, and stand for 80% of Spain´s production. Other important exports include olive oil, leather shoes, toys and wine. If however, you are more interested in craftsmanship, the area is renowned for its traditional ceramics, baskets, fans and furniture.

Some more Alicante information that you will find useful;