Alicante
Alicante is one of the three provinces, which belongs to the Valencian Community along with Valencia and Castellon, and capital of its Province. Alicante town, situated on the coast and with a population of 300,000 inhabitants, offers a multitude of restaurants, pubs, coffee bars, clubs and many other things for you to have a great time.
In 1998, Alicante remodelled the east side of the port harbour, which was converted into a beautiful walking and leisure area. There are many restaurants, pubs, discos and cafes for everyone's enjoyment. This year, the west side was as well remodelled into a leisure and shopping area that offers plenty variety of possibilities. From the harbour, there's an incredible view of the city and the Santa Barbara Castle. This castle is worth a visit. You will enjoy one of the most beautiful city views, apart from cultural and artistic exhibitions, dinner shows and many events that will make your holidays unforgettable.
Alicante is the southernmost city of the Valencian Community and it enjoys one of the largest Universities in Spain, with approximately 40,000 students. The centre offers a great variety of studies including Human and Social Sciences, Engineering and Health studies. The Campus offers as well an enormous diversity of cultural, scientific and research activities all year round, even during summer time.
The History of Alicante starts way back around the year 30,000 B.C. Neanderthals lived here by then and their cave paintings were found in the province. The first signs of Iberian settlements in the Valencian Community date from 500 B.C. In the year 714 A.D. the Muslims attacked this area and ruled afterwards for nine centuries. Therefore a lot of the customs, gastronomy, art and architecture (baroque and gothic) of the province come from the Arabic culture.
The climate in Alicante is excellent with an average of 18° Celsius in winter and 32° Celsius in summer. Thanks to the high temperatures, one can enjoy the pleasures of the sea during most of the year and the beach can be used for sun tanning even in winter, as well as exercising many sports, such as trekking, mountain hiking, gliding, or horse riding.
The gastronomy in the province of Alicante is rich in oils, vegetables, fruits, seafood and rice dishes. These are the main ingredients of the "Mediterranean diet" considered to be the healthiest diet in the world. The province is also famous for its sweets. One of the typical products is the "Turron", made out of almonds and honey from the region. It is mostly eaten during the Christmas season, and is a treat brought down from the Arabic culture.
Citrus fruits are the biggest export product of the Valencian Community. They stand for 80% of Spain's production and they export to countries all over Europe. Other important products of the province are olive oil, leather shoes, toys and different wines. If you are interested in craftsmanship, you can find traditional ceramics, baskets, fans and furniture.