Alicante is the capital of the Mediterranean Costa Blanca. The tourist boom of the 70s of the last century turned the port city with a centuries-old historical heritage into a popular resort with a developed infrastructure. This amazing Spanish corner is famous for its picturesque colorful quarters and squares, architectural ensembles and museums, luxurious beaches and hotel complexes. Arriving vacationers will easily find the answer to the question of what to see in Alicante in 1 day on their own without much difficulty. The city is replete with interesting sights that will leave pleasant impressions in the memory of tourists.
Boulevard Esplanade
One of the hallmarks of the capital of the Spanish Costa Blanca is the Esplanada pedestrian boulevard. This popular vacation spot for residents and numerous guests of the city is a well-groomed embankment. A spacious alley with spreading date palms stretches along the half-kilometer seaside street, giving people a cool shade and a fragrant aroma of overhanging fruits. Benches are located under the crowns of tall exotic trees.
The boulevard is replete with all kinds of cafeterias, bars, restaurants, banks, shops and souvenir shops. The Esplanade boils around the clock and buzzes with active life. Here tourists will find an extensive entertainment program organized by street actors and musicians. Various events and concert festivals regularly take place in the open shell-shaped pavilion.
The central part of the boulevard is paved with multi-colored marble mosaics. The pavement laid with volumetric patterns creates an optical effect of a sea wave. The embankment is decorated with sculptural compositions, whimsical lampposts and lush flower beds.
House of Carbonel
Behind the rows of stalls on the Esplanade embankment, a grandiose luxurious building rises, striking the audience with its architectural beauty. This is the House of Carbonell, built in the 1920s. A snow-white six-story building, erected in the Art Nouveau style, topped with two towers with domes. The perfectly symmetrical facade is decorated with numerous window openings of various shapes. The owner of the house was a wealthy textile entrepreneur, Enrique Carbonel. He moved with his family to Alicante due to his daughter's illness.
On the recommendation of doctors, it was vital for her to stay on the Costa Blanca, where a warm maritime climate prevails. Today's pompous apartments of the historic building are occupied by various organizations. Each floor has four apartments with study, dining room, hall, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and reception area. On the top floor, a terrace is attached, from where you can enjoy an amazing view of the sea bay, port and boulevard.
Volvo Ocean Race Museum
In the port area there is a museum dedicated to the Volvo Ocean Race round-the-world sailing regatta. Every year, since 1973, millions of spectators from all over the world have been closely and recklessly following the fascinating sea voyage, which starts from the Spanish resort town of the Costa Bravo. Visitors to the modern complex will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the traditions and rules of sailing.
The exhibition consists of exhibits revealing the features of the nine-month competition. The collection contains unique shots, information stands, maps, navigation equipment, waterproof suits of expedition members and other interesting materials. Thanks to advanced technologies, tourists can take a virtual trip across the sea and play the role of yachtsmen. Special simulators simulate the steering wheel and the captain's cabin with the control panel of a high-speed yacht.
Ship "Holy Trinity"
An excellent replica of the old Spanish battleship "Holy Trinity" is moored for eternal anchorage in the harbor. The original three-deck ship, launched in 1769, impressed with its majestic dimensions, which was a miracle of engineering for the 18th century. Its length was more than sixty meters and a height of eight meters. It was one of the most heavily armed ships in the world, as evidenced by 140 artillery guns. During the construction of the ship, varieties of Mexican pine and mahogany were used.
The vessel "Holy Trinity" took part in decisive battles, including the struggle of Spain against Great Britain for the independence of the North American colonies. After the famous battle of Trafalgar, the ship disappeared into the depths of the sea. Recreated in the 2000s, the double of the symbol of the Spanish navy has become one of the attractions. Today it houses a restaurant and a museum.
Museum of Fine Arts at the Gravina Palace
A visit to the Museum of Fine Arts guarantees a pleasant experience. An impressive collection of paintings occupies the halls of the Gravin Palace, built in the 18th century. More than 500 works of art of the 16th-20th centuries are on display here. The exposition is represented by works of such prominent local painters as Hocain Agrosot, Fernando Carbero, Antonio Hisbert and other immigrants from Alicante.
The paintings are divided in accordance with a certain thematic category - this is a portrait, still life, landscape, as well as panels on social and religious subjects. The museum is equipped with multimedia devices, thanks to which viewers can enjoy visual presentations. The property of the gallery is the painting "Calvary of Christ", painted by Rodrigo do Auson in the 16th century.
House of Alberola
On Ramon Cajal Avenue, one of the pompous architectural monuments flaunts - the House of Alberola. The building was erected in 1894 by the Spanish architect Jose Guardiola Pico. According to official documentation, the owner of the structure was Juan Alberola Romero. The neoclassical house attracts attention with its cylindrical tower with window openings. The surface of the dome is tiled with exquisite slate tiles. The symmetrical facade of the six-storey building is decorated with numerous rectangular windows with platbands, decorative cornices and balconies with wrought iron bars.
City hall
In the historical center, not far from the embankment, there is a cozy Town Hall Square, framed on four sides by gray stone buildings. Here rises the building of the city hall, where local Spanish officials work for the good of the people. The magnificent monumental rectangular structure is an interesting baroque palace of the 18th century. Its construction took about 90 years. In front of the town hall, the fountain jets are gushing out from under the stone slabs. There are cafeterias along the perimeter of the square.
The facade is crowned with two majestic thirty-five-meter towers, between which a dome is installed. The three-story City Hall is decorated with a balustrade, bas-reliefs, double windows with decorative trims, balconies with wrought iron bars, curved pediments and a large city coat of arms. The central entrance to the town hall is a massive green iron gate, decorated with ornate columns on both sides. The doors are freely open to all curious tourists. The luxuriously decorated interiors of the halls, furnished with antique carved furniture, are replete with works of art.A gallery with portraits of mayors attracts attention.
Basilica of Santa Maria
The old church of St. Mary rightfully deserves the title of one of the expressive landmarks of the city. The erection of the Gothic basilica of the XIV century was marked by the fall of the rule of the Moors over the Spanish region. A temple was built on the ruins of a destroyed Muslim mosque. The church building has one nave. The sides of the façade are crowned with asymmetrical bell towers. The central portal, decorated with amazing carvings, columns, sculptural groups and ornaments, is delightful.
The interior decoration strikes the eye with a high vaulted ceiling, a gilded altar, stucco molding and a majestic organ instrument. The halls of the basilica are separated by a massive arched gallery. The sculptural compositions impress the audience with the precision of the lines and details of the images. Many colorful artistic religious paintings can be seen on the walls of the temple.
Parc de la Hereta
The resort town attracts its guests not only with magnificent beaches and historical monuments of architecture, but also with picturesque natural corners. One of these places is the park complex Ereta. The green area stretches on the slope of Mount Benacantil at the foot of the famous fortress of Santa Barbara. It is an ideal position with panoramic views of the city, port, coastal areas and the Mediterranean bay.
Thanks to the terraced organization of the park, the landscape design masters managed to plant a large number of various lush conifers and all kinds of shrubs. Here you can enjoy rich vegetation and aromas of fragrant flowers. Paths with steps lead to the terraces, along which there are well-groomed alleys with plantings. A leisurely walk through coniferous forests and olive groves will give tourists a real pleasure. Benches are installed under the lush crowns of trees.
In addition to viewing platforms, the park's territory has play and entertainment areas for active recreation. On one of the terraces there is a fountain where children love to frolic. Climbing to the upper platform, you can see the restaurant "La Ereta". Its visitors have the opportunity to taste Mediterranean cuisine.
Fortress Santa Barbara
At the top of Mount Benacantil, the fortress of Santa Barbara rises majestically. This medieval fortification is the main architectural landmark of the resort. At first glance, it attracts the attention of vacationers with its monumental appearance. An impregnable formidable fort was built in the 9th century under Arab rule. In the middle of the 13th century, the Christian troops of the King of Castile Alfonso X recaptured the castle from the Moors. This event took place on the day of St. Barbara, hence the fortress got its famous name.
Over its centuries-old history, Santa Barbara has withstood numerous military battles. The last attack on the fortress took place in 1873. Having lost its defensive strategic importance, the building turned into a prison. Since 1963, after a long period of oblivion, abandonment and reconstruction, the citadel has been welcoming numerous tourists. The fortress consists of many buildings, narrow passages through stone arches and courtyards, which is of interest to connoisseurs of antiquity. The fort has all the elements typical of a medieval castle.
These are powerful battlements and loopholes, spacious bridgeheads and ammunition depots, watchtowers and secret passages, bastions and gloomy dungeons. On the territory there is a museum, a shop with souvenirs, as well as several cafeterias where you can eat. Restaurant establishments offer visitors to stay on spacious terraces. Observation platforms deserve special attention. From a bird's eye view, fascinating panoramic views of the city, port and sea bay open up. You can climb to the castle by elevator or on foot through a picturesque landscape park.
Archaeological Museum
This is one of the largest and most fascinating archaeological museums in Spain. The scientific and educational complex has an impressive collection of exhibits of historical value for the Costa Blanco region. The museum fund contains over 80,000 unique artifacts. The exposition offers an opportunity to get acquainted with the stages of development of civilization that has existed on the shores of the Mediterranean for 100,000 years.
The exhibition occupies the premises of the former San Juan Hospital. Its halls are equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia and audiovisual computer technologies, which allows tourists not only to view archaeological finds, but also to receive maximum useful information. This is facilitated by light, musical and holographic effects that virtually transport viewers to the distant past.
Archaeological artifacts are housed in five rooms. Each of them is dedicated to a corresponding historical era: the Paleolithic, Iberian culture, Roman rule, the Middle Ages and the modern period. Here you can see rock paintings, household and labor items, jewelry, dishes, tools, sculptures and much more. Thanks to visual shows and interactive means, guests of the museum complex will be curious to find themselves in the atmosphere of everyday life in a Roman city or to learn in detail about the beliefs of Christianity and Islam.
Bullfighting arena
Bullfighting for the Spaniards is an integral part of culture, a traditional ritual ceremony and a kind of psychological relaxation. The duel of the bullfighter and the bull delights the audience with its solemnity and significance of actions. The battle of a brave man with a powerful dangerous aggressive animal weighing half a ton personifies courage, resilience and the ability to overcome life's difficult circumstances.
Massive colorful and exciting performance is held in a special arena. Here it is called Plaza de Toros. This is one of the oldest buildings in the city was inaugurated in 1849. The building looks like a Roman circus with spectator seats located around the arena. The sand-covered bullfighting area is separated by a barrier more than a meter high.
Fortress of San Fernando
Fortifications were used to resist the attack of adversaries. One of the two fortifications designed to repel enemy troops was the castle of San Fernando. The construction of the fort was aimed at protecting the city from Napoleon's army, which was terrifying all over Europe. The construction of the fortress took place in 1812, but the plans of the French emperor changed. He chose, to his misfortune, to deploy troops and concentrate military forces against the Russian Empire. The citadel has been a prison for some time.
The fortress of San Fernando rises on Mount Tossal, at the foot of which a deep moat has been dug. The fort consists of two bastions connected by a wall-passage. The northern bastion is built in the form of a polygon, while the southern bastion has the shape of a truncated cone. The massive stone base of the structure houses bunkers for protection from artillery shelling, warehouses with ammunition and provisions, as well as barracks. There is a beautiful park complex around the castle, where you can go in for sports and take a measured walk.
Central market
The Central Market deservedly belongs to one of the most interesting places in the capital of the Costa Blanco. Life is constantly boiling here and a positive atmosphere reigns. The shopping pavilions, teeming with a variety of fresh produce, are housed in a beautiful structure. The two-storey magnificent building, erected in 1921, is of architectural value. The facade of the rectangular building is decorated with bas-reliefs, mosaics and stucco moldings.
The large assortment of seafood, vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses and sausages is amazing. The meat section is represented by cuts of pork, veal, beef, goat, chicken, duck, rabbit and turkey. The lower floor of the market is occupied by rows of seafood. The ice stalls are filled with shrimp and mussels, clams and octopuses, crabs and lobsters, lobsters and lobsters, Mediterranean and ocean fish, and many other delicacies.
Juicy, ripe vegetables and fruits exude mouth-watering spicy aromas. Here you can buy mangoes, papayas, watermelons, oranges, peaches, pears and various outlandish fruits. Spices, mushrooms, eggs, nuts, various pickles and sweets are also popular on the market.
Luceros Square
For many tourists, acquaintance with the sights starts from the central square of Luceros. It is here that buses come, making regular flights from the airport, and also from here the main streets of the city begin. The square, which is a motor transport ring, is notable for its fountain in the form of a sculptural composition. In the center of the pool there is a column adorned with monumental statues. A green lawn with palm trees and flowers is laid out around the fountain. Nearby are modern residential complexes, administrative offices, shopping centers.
How to get from the airport to the center
The international airport is the most important transport hub in the south of Spain. The modern terminal of the air terminal is equipped with a developed infrastructure necessary for comfortable passenger service. The airport is located ten kilometers from the city center. After passing through passport control and receiving luggage, tourists can use two types of transport: bus and taxi.
There is a bus service between the capital of the Costa Blanco resort region and the air harbor. Blue buses operate on route C-6 every twenty minutes, from 6:40 am to midnight. The journey takes about 30 minutes. The ticket price is 3.85 euros. The bus stop is on the second level of the terminal. You can purchase a ticket from the driver when boarding. Buses are equipped with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.
The most convenient and fastest way to transfer from the airport is a taxi, which will take passengers in 15 minutes. This option is ideal for those who do not want to depend on public transport schedules or carry bulky luggage with them. Unlike the bus, the taxi service provides services around the clock. Tourists can pre-order a car by the time of their arrival through special aggregators or find free tasks at the exit from the terminal. The price of the trip will cost about 30 euros.
