Light source - Alicante

One of the most important Spanish ports in the Mediterranean Sea lies at the foot of a rocky mountain on which stands an ancient fortress. This is Alicante, a city whose Arabic name means "source of light".

The real tourist pearl of the Costa Blanca coast is Alicante, a resort popular among Poles visiting the Spanish Levant. The nearby beaches tempt lovers of tan and blissful lounging on the sand. Among them is Juan de Alicante, considered the favorite beach of the inhabitants of Madrid. It can be easily reached by the city tram FGV.

Castillo de Santa Bárbara - the guardian of the city

The castle rises above Alicante, which is a huge tourist attraction of Castillo de Santa Bárbara . It stands on the top of Benacantil Mountain, which is associated with a sad legend explaining the name of the rock - "Cara del Moro", meaning "face of the Moor". The 13th-century princess threw herself into the abyss out of despair that her father had forbidden her to marry an Arab lover. When he found out about it, he took his own life in the same way. It is said that since then the rock resembles a human face.

There are several ways to get to the castle: walking from the Ereta Park, walking along the walls, and also walking from Playa del Postiguet . Visiting the building is payable, and while exploring the interior, we are accompanied by a guide (the cost ranges from 1.50-3 €, children under 6 can enter the castle for free).

After visiting Castillo de Santa Bárbara, you can go for a walk along the beautiful Explanada de Espana promenade. It runs between rows of palm trees, 500 meters wide, undulating in the eyes of the onlookers - literally, because it is made of a corrugated marble mosaic.

Alicante attractions

It's best to start visiting Alicante from the old part of the city. During the day it is a bit lazy and calm, but it comes alive at night. Gradually, more taverns and bars are opening up, and the streets are filled with buzz and loud music. Among the most attractive sights of the resort are the Concatedral de San Nicolás de Bari , a cathedral built on the ruins of a former mosque. Inside the temple there is an older courtyard, dating back to the 15th century.

Wandering further, we will pay attention to the baroque building of Ayuntamiento de Alicante , the seat of the city hall. It catches the eye with its dimensions and two 35-meter towers. Another monument is the oldest church in Alicante, the Gothic Basílica de Santa María. It has a delicious baroque portal, and inside there is a polychrome main altar from the Rococo period.

An interesting place is also the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante (MACA), located in the baroque building Casa de La Asegurada. Its collection includes about 200 works of art by 20th-century artists such as Picasso, Dali and Kandinsky.

Where to stay

About 4 km from the city center there is El Jardin camping . An overnight stay for an adult costs from 3.5 to 5.6 euro, and a motorhome stand - from 5.5 to 7 euro / day. The beaches of Muchavista and San Juan are just 500 meters away.

After resting, you can visit the neighboring "little Manhattan", that is Benidorm . A noisy cluster of several dozen multi-story hotels is playing in full swing, which can quickly tire vacationers with less energy. It is teeming with parties at night, and during the day it makes hungry tourists lazy. In addition to the mass of places for young people seeking thrills, it also offers entertainment for families with children, including theme parks and quieter hotels.

Little Guadalest is located a bit further. Once an unknown point on the map, today it is more and more often visited by tourists tempted by the magnificent view stretching from the top of the mountain. There is an Arab castle on it, which can be reached through a tunnel carved in the rock. Surprisingly, visitors can find a cemetery at the very top. In turn, at the foot of the castle there is the Museum of Miniatures, which attracts with original exhibits, e.g. a painting by Goya painted on the wing of a fly or a work by Da Vinci made on a grain of rice.

As you can see, Costa Blanca doesn't let you get bored. The wealth of its attractions will fill our holiday.