Alicante is one of the most popular resorts in Spain. Every year it is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists, attracted by the warm and mild Mediterranean climate, interesting architectural monuments and the rich history of this place. On the Web you can find many photos and reviews of tourists about Alicante in Spain, but in this case it is really better to see once than hear a hundred times.
History
2500 years ago, a small Iberian settlement appeared on the site of the modern resort, a little later the Greeks came and founded a trading colony. From Greek, the word translates as “White Fortress” and was originally pronounced as “Acre Levca”, when the city later came under the rule of the Roman invaders, they renamed it Lucentium, which means “City of Bright Radiance”. The Moors came in their place and brought with them a new name - Al Lukant, consonant with the modern one.
At the end of the 16th century, the city was recaptured by the Castilians and transformed into an important trading port for all of Spain. During this period, it was actively reconstructing old buildings and buildingnew. Many monuments of those years can be seen today.
Weather
One of the main reasons for the positive reviews of tourists about Alicante in Spain is the location. It is located in the Mediterranean climate zone, and therefore, warm and sunny weather reigns almost all year round.
The climate in Alicante is sunny and arid, rains are rare, mostly in spring and autumn, so the local landscapes are reminiscent of Crete and Crimea. The statistics counts 330 sunny days annually, and the summer, which begins in May, ends only at the end of October.
The average air temperature is 18 ºС, in winter it does not fall below 6 ºС, and in summer it does not rise above 30 ºС. The hottest month is August and the coldest month is February. Water warms up to 23 ºС in June, in September - up to 27 ºС. Tourist reviews about the weather in Alicante (Spain) are always positive.
The swimming season lasts from May to mid-September, during these months the rental of umbrellas and sunbeds is open, lifeguards work on the beach. For example, in the city of Benidorm, beach service is available almost all year round.
In October, in Alicante (Spain), according to tourists, it is no less good than in the peak season. At this time, an unusual cream apple (cherimoya), as well as pomegranates and grapefruits are harvested here.
Beaches
Reviews of tourists about the beaches of Alicante in Spain are mostly positive. As well as throughout the country, they are municipal, public, private and paid no. Conventional information is used to inform visitorsflag system:
- green means the beach is completely safe for swimming;
- yellow - for confident swimmers;
- red - swimming is prohibited, but it is usually hung out for a while, for example, when a dangerous current occurs;
- black shows that there are many jellyfish in the water. However, no such flag has been flown in the past nine years.
There are restaurants, bars, equipment rentals, playgrounds, showers and toilets on each beach. Lifeguards are on duty everywhere. Favorite among all the beaches in Alicante (Spain), according to tourists, is Postiguet, located at the foot of Mount Benacantil. Among others, it stands out for its beautiful promenade and fine clean sand and the longest beach (almost three kilometers long) "San Juan", especially popular with water sports enthusiasts. And those who like to snorkel and explore the underwater world will love the small rocky coves off Cape Cabo de Huertas.
There is a small risk of being burned by touching a jellyfish or stepping on a spiderfish. In preparation for your trip, please read the recommendations on how to deal with these cases.
Hotels
The best reviews of tourists in Alicante (Spain) over the past decades have been received by hotels located on the Postiguet beach. Even the most expensive hotels do not have their own beach, so you have to use the public ones.
On the first line of the beach, a five-star room will cost 150-220 euros, and with three stars, for example,San Juan area, at 120 euros.
The most numerous and sought-after category of housing is apart-hotels, available to visitors with an average income. You can find such an option both in the city center and close to the beach, for a young couple or for a large family. Weekly accommodation during the peak season costs from 300 to 1500 euros, and during normal times the prices are reduced by a factor of three.
Entertainment
In addition to the standard parties in bars, restaurants and on the beach, interesting folk festivals and carnivals often take place in Alicante.
List of the most interesting events according to the reviews of tourists in Alicante (Spain):
- Bonfires of St. John the Baptist (San Juan) (June 19-24) - giant papier-mâché satirical figures ridiculing famous pop stars, politicians and human vices decorate the streets for several days, and then solemnly burned on the last night of the holiday.
- The Feast of the Three Kings (or the Three Wise Men) is a colorful carnival procession during which gifts are thrown into the crowd of children.
- Moors and Christians - celebrated in April in the city of San Blas. For three whole days, from morning to evening, cheerful and colorful carnival processions of participants pass through the streets.
- Easter week - at the end of April according to the Catholic calendar. In all the cities of Spain, a week before Easter, called "holy", a variety of religious processions roam, among which there are a lot of original costumes, for example, with white caps, reminiscent of the clothes of the Ku Klux Klan.
Ten things to do in Alicante
To get the most out of any holiday, especially abroad, you need to choose a good hotel and area in advance, make a list of attractions and great cafes, and find out what local dishes are worth trying. After analyzing hundreds of tourist reviews about Alicante in Spain, we have compiled a list of the main things that you just need to do when you arrive there on vacation.
- Visit the castles of Santa Barbara and San Fernando.
- Have breakfast overlooking the sea at Kiosso Miramar Cafe on Postiguet Beach.
- Try real churros with hot chocolate and paella at traditional restaurant La Nyora.
- Visit a local holiday.
- Ride the tram along the streets of the city.
- Go shopping.
- Go to the bullfight at the famous Plaza de Toros arena.
- Sunbathe on the beach.
- See the island of Tabarka, which received the status of a reserve, thanks to the unique flora and fauna.
- Walk along Muchavista Beach and the scenic Expalada Boulevard.
Curious facts
- In Alicante, they speak two languages - Spanish and Valencian, the latter is more used in official organizations.
- It is correct to say both Alcante (in Valencian) and Alicante (in Spanish).
- In 1489, a long and very severe drought began in Alicante,then a fragment of a canvas with the image of the face of Jesus Christ was brought from Rome - the Veil of St. Veronica. According to legend, Saint Veronica wiped the bloody sweat from the face of the Savior with this cloth. Every May, more than fifty thousand pilgrims come to venerate the shrine.
