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he city of Alicante stands on the east coast of Spain and is bathed by the Mediterranean

Sea. The coastline in this region is known as the Costa Blanca and is home to such

internationally renowned tourist destinations as Benidorm, Calpe, Jávea and Altea. As a Mediterranean

city, it has its own distinct personality and a characteristic climate which, together with its beaches

and areas of outstanding natural beauty, have made Alicante one of the leading tourist destinations

in Spain and Europe.

The average yearly temperature is over 18ºC and the city enjoys nearly 3,000 hours of sunshine

a year, with mild winters and hot summers that invite visitors to bathe in the enticing waters of its

beaches.

The city is open to the rest of the world by way of its port and modern infrastructures such as its international

airport, train station and network of roads and motorways, which furnish the city with a constant stream

of visitors.

Alicante has always known how to adapt to changing times, as demonstrated by its having become the headquarters

of the European Union's Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM). It also boasts a comprehensive

and varied range of hotels and accommodation that is constantly being renewed and updated, plus modern facilities

for hosting conferences. Not to mention a great university tradition.

A healthy present and a promising future meld seamlessly with its intense history, which has seen Iberian, Roman and

other cultures welcomed to its lands over the centuries: cultures which have left their mark visibly in the area's numerous

archaeological sites and in the museums dedicated to keeping their memory alive.

T

he city of Alicante is accessible by land, sea and air. Motorways, highways and other minor roads enable visitorsto reach Alicante by car or coach from the major Spanish and European cities. The international airport of El Altet is

located just 10 minutes from the city centre and is one of the main entry points for visitors to Alicante.Travelling by train is a comfortable way to get to the Costa Blanca capital, but if you prefer you can also sail in by boat, as thereare crossings between Alicante and a number of Mediterranean cities. In fact, from the ports in Alicante and Denia (a town 90kilometres to the north), a direct route is run to the Balearic Islands.

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The Province of Alicante

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THE AP-7/E-15 TOLL ROAD

Alicante - Madrid: 422 kilometres

Alicante - Barcelona: 512 kilometres

Alicante - Bilbao: 817 kilometres

Alicante - Sevilla: 609 kilometres

Alicante - Valencia: 166 kilometres

Some direct flights from the El Altet international airport

MOTORWAYRAILWAYHIGH-SPEED RAILWAY

EL ALTET INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

THE DENIA-IBIZA-PALMA DE MALLORCA FERRY

THE ALICANTE-IBIZA-PALMA DE MALLORCA FERRY

Spain and Portugal

Bournemouth

Birmingham

London

Edinburgh

The city of Alicante is home to a large selection of museums capable of

satisfying the most curious and demanding of intellects.

The leading institutions include the MARQ Archaeological Museum, one of

Spain's most avant-garde museums due to the innovative way in which

archaeology is presented using the most hi-tech audiovisual techniques, earning

it the European Museum of the Year Award in 2004. Meanwhile, the MUBAG

Museum of Fine Arts has an outstanding collection by Alicante artists from the

16th to the early 20th century. Both museums are housed in traditional Alicante

buildings, which have been refurbished for use as cultural spaces.

Other museums include the Nativity Scene Museum (Museo de Belenes), which explores

Alicante's great nativity scene tradition, the Bullfighting Museum (Museo Taurino) devoted

to the world of bulls and bullfighters; the MUA University of Alicante Museum dedicated to

contemporary art and the Fogueres Museum, which focuses on the city's biggest and most popular

festival, the Hogueras de San Juan.

Most of these museums are located in the old town of Alicante, therefore visiting them is really easy

and accessible.

As well as museums, Alicante also has a great monumental heritage.

Examples include: Santa Bárbara Castle overlooking the Mediterranean

atop Mount Benacantil and providing unrivalled sea views; the Santa María

Church, a 14th century Gothic temple that houses a priceless documental

and artistic collection whose oldest piece is an incunable dating back to the

13th century; the San Nicolás Co-cathedral in the city's historic quarter, which

is a church used as a cathedral and a clear example of Spanish Enlightment from

the first half of the 18th century; the Town Hall, an 18th century baroque-style palace

interesting in that it houses the reference point for measuring the height above sea

level of any place in Spain which is known as “cota cero”, and can be found on the

first step of the building's main staircase; and the Santa Faz Monastery just 5 kilometres

outside the city centre, which is home to a relic brought from the Vatican in the 15th century,

which, according to popular tradition, is part of a veil that Veronica used to wipe the bloodied

face of Christ on his way to Calvary.

From Santa Bárbara Castle, visitors can walk down to the historic quarter, where most of these

buildings are to be found along the route that runs through the Ereta Park, on the same side of the

mountain, via the typical picturesque neighbourhood of Santa Cruz. To avoid the steep path that links

Santa Bárbara Castle to the bottom of Mount Benacantil, another option is to walk along the remains

of the walls that used to surround the castle and now end at the hermitage in the Santa Cruz

neighbourhood.

Eleven nautical miles from the city of Alicante lies the island known as La Isla

de Tabarca, the only inhabited island in the whole Region of Valencia. The

excellent quality of its waters and the biodiversity of its fauna have led to its official

designation as a Mediterranean Marine Reserve.

The island's most striking feature is its fine-sand beaches and rocky coves, with their

crystal-clear waters. Another major attraction is its delicious cuisine based on a

combination of rice and freshly caught seafood.

Mother Nature has blessed Alicante with a large number of beaches, which constitute the

province's major tourist attraction. Their popularity is owed to the quality of the waters and

sand as well as the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. Year after year they are awarded the

European Union's blue flag status, whose merited international prestige is evidenced by the thousands

of bathers who visit all year round. Summer is naturally the height of tourist activity, with visitors enjoying

not only the beaches' natural charms but also the many services on offer (lifeguards, medical services,

bars, public transport and such like). From the busiest to the most quiet and remote, Alicante's beaches

are undoubtedly the most photographed feature in postcards sent from this city.

The best Alicante beaches include El Postiguet, San Juan, El Saladar-Urbanova, La Albufereta,

El Cocó, La Almadraba and the beaches at El Cabo de Las Huertas.

Visitors to the city of Alicante have many an opportunity to make their trip

coincide with one of the many Spanish fiestas dotting the calendar throughout

the year. The Hogueras de San Juan bonfire celebrations, the Moors and

Christians parades, Carnival, Holy Week, the pilgrimage to the Santa Faz

Monastery and Christmas are just some of the occasions to remember on the

Alicante fiestas calendar.

Alicante's most important celebrations are the Hogueras de San Juan, which kick

off on 20th June and last to 29th June. These fiestas are devoted entirely to fire, and

their crowning glory takes place on 24th June, the day of Saint John the Baptist, when

flames tear through wood and paper mâché figures built in satirical vein. Officially declared

Of International Tourist Interest, these fiestas also include one of Spain's greatest bullfighting

celebrations.

And no less popular than the Hogueras de San Juan are the Moors and Christians fiestas held in

various quarters of the city throughout the year. These fiestas are celebratory commemorations of the

struggle for control between the Christians and the Muslims of 13th century Spain. Some of the city's

most popular neighbourhoods devote several days to these fiestas, offering a great chance to discover

one of the most widespread traditions throughout the Spanish Levant.

Internationally renowned for its health-benefits, the Mediterranean diet is particularly prominent

in Alicante thanks to the produce cultivated in its fertile soil and to the fresh fish and seafood caught

in its waters. Rice is undoubtedly the main ingredient in most dishes, accompanied by fish and shellfish

on some occasions and by meat or vegetables on others.

Furthermore, the renowned and highly prestigious local wines complement this exquisite cuisine.

Specialities such as “coca amb tonyina”, a succulent tuna pasty, the “coca boba” (sweet) and “coca

de molletes” (savoury) are just a few examples of Alicante's culinary richness: a richness that extends

to a range of “montaditos” (small sandwiches combining meats and salted fish with vegetables) and,

of course, the typically Spanish “tapas”.

Alicante's shop windows offer a blend of modernity and tradition, from the

most fashionable and cutting-edge labels to typical local products with a

great cultural heritage. All of this is available in luxury boutiques, modern

shopping centres and an extensive network of small and medium-sized shops

where you will find such local products as “turrón” (nougat), chocolates, sugared

almonds, dates, regional wines and spirits, fruit and vegetables and canned

fish.

Other economic sectors from around the province are also represented here, offering

products such as toys and games, footwear, leather goods, rugs, ceramics and wicker

goods.

ElcheElche is the Region of Valencia's third largest city in terms of population andis the Spanish footwear capital. The mere mention of Elche immediately evokesimages of its spectacular palm tree grove, El Palmeral, which has been declareda UNESCO World Heritage Site, and of the Misteri, one of Spain's most importantcultural events, which has also been acknowledged by UNESCO as an Oraland Intangible Heritage of Humanity and involves the staging of a sung two-partmediaeval drama held on 14th and 15th August.

AlteaAltea is one of the prettiest towns on the whole of the Mediterranean, and is blessedwith over 6 kilometres of coastline: long, sandy beaches alternate with secluded coveswhere sea-lovers can quietly enjoy the views.Altea's old quarter is perfect for ambling through the narrow streets, popping into arts andcrafts shops and trying out some of the most charming restaurants in the whole of the province.

BenidormBenidorm's raison d'être is tourism which is the focus of daily activity in this fishing village turnedcosmopolitan hotspot on the shores of the Mediterranean. Lively by day, at night its beaches are placesfor heady entertainment, while the Terra Mítica theme park epitomises Benidorm's tourist attractions.Young, old and anywhere in between, Benidorm has a time and a place for everyone.

El Castell de GuadalestOfficially declared a Historical and Artistic Site in 1974, this town boasts a huge number and varietyof museums, spectacular views of one of the most stunning valleys on the Costa Blanca and fantasticcuisine so typical of the Alicante mountain areas.It is also home to the popular and iconic San José Castle, accessed through a crack in the mountainsidethat functions as the gateway to this unique spot.

The sunshine, beaches and other marvels that keep visitors flocking to the

Costa Blanca are perfectly complemented by a wide and varied range of

sporting activities that visitors can enjoy all year round thanks to Alicante's

privileged climate. Water sports and golf are among the most popular pastimes,

with Alicante's great many marinas and interesting coastlines providing for such

activities as diving, boat hire, windsurfing and jet biking, whilst the city and its

surrounding areas offer no less than four 18-hole golf courses.

Asociación para la Promoción del Golf en Alicante (APGA)Association for the Promotion of Golf in Alicante (APGA)Tlf. (+34) 965 156 185Fax (+34) 965 153 936hi.alicante@julbal.com

Alicante GolfAvda. Locutor Vicente Hipólito, 37Playa de San Juan03540 AlicanteTlf. (+34) 965 152 043Fax (+34) 965 163 707clubgolf@alicantegolf.comwww.alicantegolf.com

Campo de Golf El PlantíoCrta. Antigua Alicante-Elche, km 303114 AlicanteTlf. (+34) 965 189 115 - 965 189 070Fax (+34) 965 189 105elplantiogolf@elplantio.comwww.elplantio.com

Club de Golf BonalbaPtda. Bonalba, s/n03114 Mutxamel - AlicanteTlf. (+34) 965 955 955Fax (+34) 965 955 078golfbonalba@golfbonalba.comwww.golfbonalba.com

Alenda GolfAutovía Alicante-Madrid, km 1503670 Monforte del Cid - AlicanteTlf. (+34) 965 620 521Fax (+34) 965 621 796cadymaster@alendagolf.comwww.alendagolf.com

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