Best places to go in Alicante
The trip begins in the Explanada de España, a great promenade with four hundred palm trees paved with mosaic. It has an Auditorium and street markets. It is bordered by stately buildings such as the Carbonell House (1924), the Lamaignere House and the Casino. The tour then continues along the Paseo de Gómiz, in front of Postiguet beach, whose name comes from the wicket of the Portal Nou, where the old Jewish quarter was located.
Castle of Santa Bárbara
From the promenade you can take an elevator to go up to the Castle of Santa Bárbara. Located at the top of the Benacantil is the most characteristic monument of the city. Although it has Carthaginian origin, it was inhabited by Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths, Arabs and Christians. It became a prison of “political” soldiers such as Prim or Torrijos in the 19th century. A wall remains from the first Muslim period, the Torre del Homenaje was in the highest part. On the other hand, from the Castilian rule are the misnamed Tower of the English, the weapons room and the old moat where historians place the death of the Castilian governor Nicolás Pérez at the hands of James II himself.
Views from the Torre del Homenaje.
The Castle houses two of the main museums to visit in Alicante. On the one hand, the Museum of the Bonfires of San Juan, with memories of the party, photos and pardoned ninots. On the other hand, the Medieval Museum, with shields and weapons from the Middle Ages.
Near Avenida Vázquez de Mella is the MARQ (Provincial Archaeological Museum of Alicante) with its collections of Iberian villages, Visigoth and Muslim art. In its collection is the Dama del Cabezo Lucero, coetaneous of the Dama de Elche. It is the most important piece of art to see in Alicante: don’t miss it out.
Old town
On your way back to the Old Town you have to go to the Calle de Labradores, where the large families of local landowners live. There is the Church of Santa María (1264). The main facade is baroque with sculptures of the Virgin and saints. Indoors are the main altar with a Carrara marble baptismal font of the 16th century, a choir and a tabernacle of the 18th century. There is also the Casa de la Asegurada Museum and the MACA Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante. However, the latter is not a priority to visit in Alicante. Nearby is the Convent of the Blood of the cloistered Augustinian nuns (18th century).
The Co-cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari (17th century) has on its main facade a niche of La Virgen del Remedio. The altar keeps an image of the titular saint of the churche from the end of the XVII century. There is also the Plateresque style dressing room of the Virgin, the 15th century cloister, the Baroque grille, the sculptural group of Christ and the two thieves, the Baroque altarpiece with a relief of The Annunciation carved in marble from the Communion Chapel and the image of the Christ of Good Death, from the 18th century.
Co-cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari.
Sourroundings of the cathedral
Next to the cathedral is the Royal College of the Society of Jesus (s. XVIII). It is now occupied by Capuchin nuns. Nearby are the Pozos de Garrigós, ancient cisterns dug out of rock to store water. The Museum of Ceramics is inside.
The Baroque Town Hall (18th century) is identified by the Salomonic columns, the balcony and the two rampant lions that support the city’s coat of arms. A pair of massive towers flank its ends. Inside there is a reproduction of the letter of Ferdinand the Catholic with the title of city (1490). Among its interesting rooms is the chapel with tiles by Manises and the Salón Azul.
The Museum of Nativity Scenes, with Christmas dioramas and excellent collections of figures, can be accessed via San Agustín Street. In the Palacio Gravina, from the 17th century, you will find the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes or MUBAG (Gravina Museum of Fine Arts) about Alicante artists from the 19th century to the present day (it is not an essential place to see in Alicante). Moreover, the Castle of San Fernando which was built on Mount Tossal during the War of Independence offers good views of the city.
On the way to the beach
On the coast road, in the direction of San Juan Beach, very close to Albufereta Beach is the important site of the Roman city of Lucentum, which was once Iberian. It is a very special place to visit if time allows. 8 km from Alicante you can visit the Monastery of Santa Faz (18th century) with a baroque façade, flanked by columns. We emphasize its Renaissance altarpiece and the reliquary of the chapel behind the altar (whose relic is considered miraculous).