Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, is one of the best known Spanish resorts. It lies between the mountains and the sea in Province of Valencia. Alicante is a vibrant city spreading around the bay between two headlands. It possesses all the essential ingredients for a pleasurable holiday with sun, sand and warm seas which is why so many tourists book an Alicante holiday each year.
An Alicante holiday offers guaranteed summer sun, fine sandy beaches, water sports, good restaurants with an interesting city waiting to be explored.
Alicante attracts a wide range of visitors every year many of them travelling from Britain. Families with young children, sporting enthusiasts, couples of all ages and young adults will find what they are looking for in Alicante.
The most popular time to holiday in Alicante is from April to October when the temperature ranges from a very pleasant twenty five degrees rising to the early thirties in the height of summer.
Alicante on the Costa Blanca has a long history. The Castle of St. Barbara was originally built in 400BC and was used by the Romans and the Moors. Take a cable car to the castle and be stunned by the views over the city and its port. The castle dominates the city particularly at night when it is illuminated. The importance of the port in earlier centuries is reflected in the many wonderful baroque buildings that remain in the city today. The oldest building, a grain store from 1685, is now the Museu de Arte del SigloXX Asegurada which houses paintings from artists such as Picasso and Dali.
There are many excellent beaches including El Postiguet near the port and La Playa de la San Juan which is four miles long, perfect for basking in the sun and for water sports. A ferry runs to the Isla de Tabarco ten miles south of Alicante. Many scuba divers go here as the rocky coast and clear waters make ideal conditions for this sport.
Land sports include tennis, golf and horse riding.
Alicante has a wide range of evening entertainment to cater for most tastes. Nightlife in the old city centre, El Barrio, has many bars, cafes and restaurants providing a pleasant evening often with life music. The modern area near Alfonso el Sabio is a livelier scene with bars and discos.
As expected in a large city, Alicante has a wide variety of shops and department stores. In the port area and along the promenades there are the usual gift shops where holiday mementoes and local handicrafts can be purchased. Wickerwork, ceramics, jewellery and leather goods are favourite souvenirs.
Alicante has a wide variety of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and pockets. Traditional Spanish restaurants and tapas bars rub shoulders with those providing fast food and international cuisine. Try the fish restaurants with their fresh, simply cooked local produce served with rice and you will not be disappointed. Local wines are pleasant and are good value. Children are always made welcome in Spanish restaurants.
