A route of light and colour through Alicante

The city that gives its name to this capital of the Valencian Community gets its name from the Arabic name “Al-Laqant”, which literally translates as “the city of light”. Alicante, the nerve centre of activity in the province, is the gateway to the beaches of the Costa Blanca. A town with a great taste for gastronomy and with a range of leisure and nature attractions with enough to enjoy your visit.

Getting to Alicante is very easy. You can take a train from Madrid, which will take you to Alicante in just two and a half hours, or you can take a leisurely drive, stopping in the beautiful surrounding villages. However, the best and most effective method of transport is undoubtedly by air. Companies such as Transavia offer tickets to Alicante and many other parts of the world from the capital, for example, flights to Amsterdam from Alicante. It is all about choosing the best possible combination.

The City Hall

The “free tours” and other tourist routes in Alicante usually have as their meeting point the City Hall. A baroque building, one of the most beautiful in the centre, dating back to the 17th century. It has a symmetrical façade with two huge towers, one of them with a clock. Inside, there are three floors including the Mayor's Hall, the Plenary Hall, the Oratory Chapel and the Blue Hall, which was the Royal Chamber of Isabel II back in 1858. The City Hall connects the Plaza del Ayuntamiento with the Plaza de Santa Faz. An essential stop on your visit to Alicante.

Luceros Square

But if there is one emblematic open space that gives the city its personality, it is the Plaza de los Luceros. Its monumental fountain in the centre, built in 1930, popularised its name as Plaza de los Caballos. It was built by Daniel Bañuls, who won an ideas competition, and is full of curious symbolism. Every local festival worth its salt passes through this part of the city, from the Parade of the Bonfires to the Three Kings' Parade. It is said that in the Plaza de Luceros you can feel the heartbeat of the city.

Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas

Just a few metres from the Town Hall Square stands the largest religious temple in Alicante. You must go inside and see its magnitude and beauty. Built in the 17th century, it houses a 15th century cloister. It combines the Renaissance style with Valencian Gothic, which gives it a particular appeal. Its impressive dome, baroque chapel and attached vaults will captivate you.

Central Market

Another “must” in Alicante is its Central Market, a modernist building built in 1911 on the 18th century wall that surrounded the city. It is a beautiful place to capture the social life of the city. Its back façade faces the Plaza del 25 de Mayo, which pays homage to the 300 victims of the bombing that Alicante suffered during the Spanish Civil War. Its fruit, vegetable and food stalls, its morning bustle and endearing bustle will make you have a good time.

Santa Cruz neighborhood

Low white houses, decorated with flowers, ceramics, lintels, flowerpots and picturesque colours. This bohemian and popular neighbourhood of the city will dazzle you with its luminosity and its charming alleys. Getting lost in its labyrinth of narrow streets is quite an experience. Its mixture of details typical of Arab culture with Christian essence gives it a unique contrast and charm.

In addition, this is a neighbourhood where folklore is present, both during Easter and during the most typical festivities in Alicante. You can visit the Ermita de Santa Cruz, from which you can see the castle of Santa Bárbara or the well-known “Casita de las macetas azules”, one of the most photogenic in the neighbourhood.

In conclusion, Alicante is a city that embodies the best of Mediterranean culture: good gastronomy, breathtaking architectural heritage, charming spaces and the warmth of its people. If you haven't visited it, now may be the time to do so.