|
 Alicante
is one of the most surprising provinces in Spain. It is the 4th largest
in terms of GDP after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. It is also a booming province,
partly due to the surge in tourist activity over recent years, especially along
the coastal areas which have the best climatic conditions in the whole of Spain.
Modernity runs alongside tradition and you can still find very traditional villages
tucked away in the mountains. You can also find some of the best gastronomy in
Spain here. The contrasts are immense. You can find British, German and Nordic
residents along the coast not to mention the areas of mass tourism such as Benidorm,
Torrevieja etc. Alicante city itself deserves more than just a short visit. Below
you will find a number of recommendations on the best, most important places to
visit and things to do…
What to see and visit in and around Alicante Alicante
city is small and is just a taster of what is on offer in the rest of the province.·
 Walking:
you can go for a very pleasant walk along the Explanada de España, Postiguet
beach and around the modern Port area which has many bars and cafes. Just a few
kilometres away from the centre, connected by the new tram network which leaves
from Postiguet beach, you can enjoy a walk on San Juan Beach which is over 6 kilometres
long. ·
The Santa Bárbara Castle: it has magnificent
panormamic views of Postiguet beach, the port and Alicante city. Also San Fernando
Castle· Cathedral and churches: The most important churches
reflecting Alicante´s heritage can be found in Orihuela, a small town near
Alicante. However, in Alicante city itself the following places are still worth
a visit: o San Nicholás cathedral (16th
century), chapel of communion o Santa María church o Santa
Faz monastery. Museums in Alicante: The
Archeological Museum MARQ - this is one of the best of its kind in Europe,
the Nativity scenes museum, Asegurada Museum (contemporary art including works
by Sempere, Miró Dalí, Picasso…);, Picasso…); The
University museum - located in a modern
building in the Alicante University Campus - it has very interesting exhibitions
and is the best university museum in Spain. with the The
Lucentum Archeological Museum . These impressive Roman remains on Mount
Tossal show some of Alicante´s earliest roots.  The
Alcudia Archeological Museum. Large site (see photo) with excavations
still going on. The Dama de Elche statue was discovered here.
Shopping in Alicante: We recommend
typical products such as salted fish and meat, turron
from Jijona, chocolate from Villajoyosa or Elda, sweet wine from Fondillon. Also
'la coca de mollitas' and 'la coca amb toyna' which can be bought in patisseries.
Restaurants: Click on the names for full description and recommendations:
Restaurant
El Bocaíto, Restaurant
La Finca, Restaurant
Casa Alfonso, Restaurant
Casa Pepa, Restaurant
Al Zaraq. See reviews of lots more restaurants here: restaurants
in Alicante and restaurants
in the Costa Blanca. Tapas: Nou Manolín and Piripi
restaurants offer a great selection of the best tapas dishes made from fresh local
produce. If you want to try making them for yourself, try out these tapas
recipes. Alicante
cuisine: The unbeatable rice dishes are the most typical dish from Alicante.
They are made with meat, seafood, fish, chicken, rabbit, pork, vegetables and
pulses. Try this traditional paella
recipe. Apart from rice there are a wide range of dishes to try from (see
cocina levantina). The fish and seafood dishes are very good especially the Red
Prawns from Denia. Also the typical stews, which can be found in the mountain
areas such as la olleta from Alcoy. Other things to look out for are salted
meats, fresh vegetables from la Vega Baja el Segura (the artichokes are excellent),
citric fruit, nísperos (loquats) from La Marina Baja, cherries from La
Marina Alta,  pomegranates
from Albatera, fresh dates from Elche, olive oil from Cocentaina, spices from
Novelda. There are also excellent cakes and pastries, Christmas sweets
such as turron from Jijona (turrones de Jijona) and other desserts made from almonds
(almendra), chocolate from la Vila y de Paco Torreblanca in Elda-Petrer, and superb
ice creams also from Jijona.
Accommodation in Alicante
- for reviews on what we think are the best price:quality options, see hotels
in Alicante Alicante Province: It is such a diverse place
offering such a wide range of possibilities that we recommend more than just a
weekend visit.  Cities
in Alicante Province:
- Elche:
famous for its palm
trees and dates. It is the second largest town in the province, after Alicante.
Visit the beautiful park Huerta
del Cura with hundreds of species of palms, cactus and other plants.
-
Alcoy: enjoyed its heyday during
the industrial revolution because of its important textile industry. Famous these
days for the spectacular Moors and Christians fiestas, held in
- Elda-Petrer:
Small towns with thriving shoe and leather industries. Pretty castles. If you
visit Elda try to eat in La
Sirena restaurant and buy some cakes (we recommend the chocolate panettoni)
in the shop just down the road belonging to Spain's most famous chocolatier, Paco
Torreblanca
- Benidorm: the tourist mecca of the Costa Blanca and
the inspiration to the famous logo "everything under the sun". Theme
parks Terra
Mítica and Terra Natura, Mundomar and a big water park. Nearby
mountain villages Guadalest
and Callosa are also popular with tourists.
Villages and towns
worth visiting in the province of Alicante (click on the links to see photos):
Costa
Blanca:Denia;
Javea
(see Parador
of Javea); Benissa;
Moraira; Villajoyosa;
Torrevieja;
Altea;
Santa
Pola; Mountain villages: Concentaina,
Alcoy, Serra de Mariola, Benialí;
Guadalest;
Parcent;
Inland: Villena;
Orihuela;
Elche;
Sax;
| 
