Holiday Guide for Alicante
Culture
Endowed with fine sandy beaches, Mediterranean sun and an up-for-it holiday vibe, the balmy capital of the Costa Blanca is one of Spain's ever-popular destinations.
Besides the satisfying trinity of sun, sea and sangria that you'd expect, Alicante also has museums, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, and local scenery well worth exploring.
Watching over the historic quarter, Santa Barbara castle is an impressive architectural hotchpotch of domes and turrets and still commands some of the best views of the 'White Coast'.
Beneath its walls the tangled streets of El Barro hide some of Alicante's most appealing buildings, including the trademark Gothic church of Santa Maria, and the handsome 17th-century Casa de la Asegurada Museum (which houses an inspired collection of contemporary art, including works by Picasso, Dali and Mir).
For more cultural sustenance, the Museo Arqueologico Provincial de Alicante provides a succinct lesson in Iberian civilization stretching from Roman times to the Middle Ages.
Location
Running parallel to the harbour, the Explanada de Espana is Alicante's smartest street. Dotted with cafes and lined with palm trees it offers welcome respite from the midday sun and plenty of opportunities for al fresco dining, relaxing and watching the world go by.
Each morning boats leave from the neighbouring harbour to make the 15km trip to Isla de Tabarca, a former pirate stronghold (complete with fort), boasting a number of marine reserves and some of the best snorkelling in the region.
Just 40km to the north is the Brit-packed party resort of Benidorm. Here, crammed beneath a Manhattan-style skyline, are enough bars and nightclubs to keep you busy for weeks, plus 5km of bustling beach, a theme park (Terra Mitica), and Europe's largest water park (Aquilandia).