Have you ever heard of Alicante?
To be honest, I hadn't heard of it either and didn't know much about it before my recent trip. It's not as popular as Barcelona, Madrid, or Ibiza, but it's definitely worth visiting. Alicante is a city rich in history, culture, and lifestyle.
During our three-night stay, we checked into the Melia Alicante, one of my favorite hotel chains. The rooms are spacious, the workout facilities are nice, and the pool offers a breathtaking view of the sea, among other amazing amenities.
To kick off our two-day trip, we joined a Free Walking Tour through GuruWalk. We met up at the Explanada de Espana, a well-known tourist attraction with 6.6 million tiles in navy, ivory, and red, which represent waves, the coast, and Alicante marble, respectively. Our guide picked this particular place because it's where the history of Alicante began during the Spanish War, when the government and church separated. Alicante was the destination for 20,000 people who fled the area due to the conflict.
Our next stop was the City Hall, which has survived several rebuilds since the 1600s. Inside the building, you'll find a plaque that reads "La Millor Teresita del Mon", or "The Best Land in the World." The same inscription can also be found in front of the City Hall square.
We then visited the Santa Iglesia Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari de Alicante, which was fortunately open to the public. The outside of the cathedral was adorned with fascinating engravings. Our guide then took us to ESPI, a local shop that offered different turron and sweet wine. We tried the local dessert and Moscatel, a sweet wine, which was a great experience. The owner even opened up the shop just for us!
Our last stop was the Mercat Central d’Alacant, the local market where you can find everything from vegetables to seafood. The market is open from 7 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 7 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.
After the tour, we explored Alicante on our own. We took a stroll around the port near the Ocean Race Museum before heading up to Santa Barbara Castle. On the way, we stopped at Baslica of St. Mary of Alicante and enjoyed the picturesque streets towards the castle. Allocate at least two hours for the castle visit, as going up can take up to an hour depending on how many times you stop along the way. Once at the castle, you can easily spend an hour or more exploring. We recommend taking the elevator back down.
If you have time, be sure to check out Calle de Las Seta, also known as "The Mushroom Street," a whimsical, fantasy wonderland with yellow and green brick roads, toadstool houses, and mushrooms. This street was created when the economy was low to attract people to the area.
If you have an early flight out, I would recommend visiting the Ocean Race Museum. The museum is FREE, you just have to provide your statistics meaning where you are from. The museum explains with hands on experience and videos, the ocean race, the route, the conditions, and more.
Overall, Alicante is a fantastic place to relax by the sea, enjoy the warm weather, learn about the history and culture, and indulge in local cuisine. Don't overlook this hidden gem in Spain!
Comments