Alicante Local Attractions

Alicante city has the majority of its historical attractions located within its old quarter which means they are all accessible on foot. The best starting point is from the Cathedral where you enter into a labyrinth of narrow walkways into the Old Quarter where the Church of Santa Maria and the Town Hall stand next to the lively bars and terraces of el Barrio.

Alicante does not have a very extensive public transport network, with buses that run from Plaza del Mar to the airport via the west side of the bus station, trams run from the Plaza del Mar past the Estacion de la Marina and on to La Albufereta. If you want to further afield then you should rent a car or take a taxi. Most of the big international and local car rental companies have outlets at Alicante Airport.

 

The ninth century Moorish Castillo de Santa Barbara is the one of the largest medieval fortresses on Europe. Located on the summit and slopes of Mount Benacantil 166 metres above sea level the castle is built on several fortified levels looking out over the city, Alicante Bay and the sea. You can see the CAPA Collection here with his a collection of Spanish sculpture from the 19th and 20th century from important artists like Benlliure, Macho, Inurria, Oteiza and Salvador Dalí.

The castle can be accessed by a road leading up the western slope of the mountain which winds its way through pine trees. You can also visit the castle by means of a lift from the Paseo Maritimo. Entrance to the castle is free, but there is a small charge for using the lift.

The Iglesia de Santa Maria in Plaza de Santa Maria is the oldest church in the city and houses several important works of art. It has gothic style architecture and was constructed over the 14th and 16th centuries on the ruins of the main Moorish mosque with an entrance between two solid looking towers and wonderful Baroque stonework.

The MARQ (Archaeological Museum of Alicante) is located in the former Hospital de San Juan de Dios on the Plaza del Doctor Gomez Ulla. It contains an important collection of over 81,000 artifacts from Paleolithic times to the Middle Ages, offering an educational experience. It was voted the Best European Museum in 2004. www.marqalicante.com

The MUBAG (Gravina Fine Arts Museum) is in the Gravina Palace which is and a seventeenth century building housing the main art forms from the Alicante area from the Middle Ages up to the 1920s. The collection is put into context by using period furniture and textiles with works of many significant artists such as Rodrigo de Osona, Salzillo, Vicente López, Antonio Gisbert, Joaquín Agrasot, Xavier Soler, Eusebio Sempere and Emilio Varela. www.mubag.com

The beautiful Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari on Plaza Abad Penalva is built in the renaissance style of the Spanish architect Juan de Herrera and is well worth visiting as one of the most important buildings in the old town. The unusual cloister is covered with grilles and Baroque doors, and together with the altar and the Communion Chapel it sited under a 45 metre high dome.

The bull ring in Alicante is one of the oldest in Spain which is still in use. Built in 1849 it is on the outskirts of the city and has been restored and extended with the current design dating from 1888.

If you take a 15km drive south of Alicante you will find Tabarca which is a guitar-shaped island with a total area of 30 hectares. It is mentioned in ancient Greek history and was once a refuge for Berber pirates. In 1760 King Carlos III ordered a fortress to be built here. If you don’t want to drive, it is possible to take a boat ride from Alicante to the island.

If you want to explore a bit inland, then make the 24km drive to Busot to see the Cuevas del Canelobre. They have the highest vaults in the whole of Spain with an interior like the inside of a cathedral interior with coloured lights illuminating the rock and mineral formations. Busot is also a good place to park the car and take one of a number of hiking routes which offer quite unique views. And at the end of all this activity there is a very good selection of restaurants serving local cuisine prepared with fresh produce.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Alicante Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on sporting and leisure amenities in Alicante which includes an Alicante Area Guide detailing Alicante Shopping Areas, Alicante Markets, Golf Courses in Alicante, the different types of Alicante Beaches, recommended Restaurants in Alicante , details of Alicante Amusement Parks for family days out and Alicante Local Attractions