Monuments and Historical Heritage
Alicante is a city that overflows with history, culture, and beauty at every step. Its historical heritage, which ranges from impressive monuments to charming lively corners, reflects centuries of Arab, Christian, and Mediterranean influences.
From the imposing Santa Barbara Castle, which dominates the city with spectacular views, to the elegant Explanada de España, Alicante’s highlights reflect centuries of Mediterranean culture and tradition. In the historic center, treasures like the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas and the Basilica of Santa Maria stand out for their architectural significance.
Just a few kilometers away, Tabarca Island, with its wall and picturesque church, is a must-visit for those seeking a unique blend of history and nature. Discover the living legacy of Alicante!
Civil Monuments
Alicante Town Hall
Alicante Town Hall
The Alicante Town Hall, an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece, showcases the city’s architectural splendor. Its impressive facade and the iconic "Cota Cero" on its stairs mark it as the reference point for measuring altitude above sea level in Spain. It is a place with a rich history. Inside, visitors can admire valuable artworks and spaces of great heritage value.
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SANTA BARBARA CASTLE
Santa Barbara Castle
Dominating the horizon from Monte Benacantil, the Santa Barbara Castle is one of the major symbols of Alicante. This stunning fortress offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the sea. Its history, dating back to the Muslim era, can be explored through its walls, towers, and courtyards, making the castle a must-visit for those who wish to discover Alicante’s past and present.
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Explanada de España and Casa Carbonell
Explanada de España and Casa Carbonell
The Explanada de España is the most emblematic promenade in Alicante. Its more than six million colorful marble tiles, create an undulating mosaic that imitates the sea waves. Surrounded by palm trees, this promenade is ideal for a relaxed walk with views of the harbor and the perfect place to enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere.
At one end is the iconic Casa Carbonell.
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Barrio de Santa Cruz
Barrio de Santa Cruz
The Barrio de Santa Cruz is the most picturesque and traditional heart of Alicante. Located on the slope of Monte Benacantil, this neighborhood features narrow, steep streets decorated with colorful flower pots and blooms, delivering a truly Mediterranean experience. Its whitewashed houses and welcoming atmosphere make it an ideal place to wander, explore, and enjoy viewpoints with stunning sea views.
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Alicante Central Market
Alicante Central Market
The Central Market of Alicante (Mercado Central de Alicante) is the heart of local life, where you can find fresh and quality products. Inaugurated in 1921 with a spectacular eclectic-style facade, the market is a bustling space where the aromas and flavors of Alicante's gastronomy come to life. It is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the city's culinary culture.
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Tabarca Historical-Artistic Complex
Tabarca Historical-Artistic Complex
A few kilometers off the coast of Alicante is Tabarca Island, the only inhabited island in the Valencian Community. Declared a Historic-Artistic Complex, its picturesque walled village, crystal-clear waters, and rich biodiversity make it a perfect destination for history and nature lovers. Tabarca is the ideal place for a getaway full of Mediterranean charm.
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Fuente de los Luceros
Fuente de los Luceros
The Fuente de los Luceros (Fountain of Luceros) is one of the most representative monuments of Alicante. Located in the central Plaza de los Luceros, this beautiful modernist fountain is a landmark for both locals and visitors. Its design, created by sculptor Daniel Bañuls, stands out for its mythological figures and serves as a key location during the Hogueras de San Juan, where the famous mascletas take place.
Bullring
Bullring
The Alicante Bullring (Plaza de Toros de Alicante) inaugurated in 1847, is one of the oldest bullrings in the Valencian Community. This historic venue not only hosts bullfights but also numerous cultural events and concerts. With a Bullfighting Museum inside, the bullring remains a symbol of Alicante's bullfighting legacy and a cultural meeting point for locals and visitors.
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Pozos de Garrigos
Pozos de Garrigos
The Pozos de Garrigo (Wells of Garrigo) is an interesting legacy of Alicante's hydraulic architecture. These ancient cisterns, built in medieval times, were used to store rainwater and supply the city for centuries. Today, they have been restored as part of the Water Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of water supply in Alicante and admire these ingenious structures that played a key role in the daily lives of its inhabitants.
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San Fernando Castle
San Fernando Castle
San Fernando Castle, located on the hill of Monte Tossal, is a fortress built in the 19th century during the War of Independence. Although it never saw combat, its walls and towers offer an interesting visit, overlooking Alicante and the Santa Barbara Castle on the other side of the city. It is an ideal place to walk and enjoy nature in a historical setting.
Civil War Air Raid Shelters
Civil War Air Raid Shelters
The Air Raid Shelters of Alicante stand as a powerful testimony to the city's recent history. Built to protect the population from bombings during the Spanish Civil War, these underground structures can now be visited as part of a guided tour that brings to life one of the most challenging periods in Alicante's past. With a moving and illustrative atmosphere, they allow visitors to understand how the city faced the horrors of war.
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Torres de la Huerta
Torres de la Huerta
The Torres de la Huerta (Huerta Towers) are a fascinating testimony to Alicante's defensive past. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, they were built to protect the rich orchard of the city from attacks by pirates who came to the coast. Today, about twenty of these towers are preserved. These imposing structures are a window to the history of the city, located between paths that invite you to walk through them and discover their secrets.
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Alicante Town Hall
Alicante Town Hall
Learn moreSANTA BARBARA CASTLE
Santa Barbara Castle
Learn moreExplanada de España and Casa Carbonell
Explanada de España and Casa Carbonell
Learn moreBarrio de Santa Cruz
The Barrio de Santa Cruz is the most picturesque and traditional heart of Alicante.
Alicante Central Market
Alicante Central Market
Learn moreTabarca Historical-Artistic Complex
Tabarca Historical-Artistic Complex
Learn moreFuente de los Luceros
Fuente de los Luceros (Fountain of Luceros) is one of the most representative monuments of Alicante, located in the central Plaza de los Luceros.
Bullring
Pozos de Garrigos
Pozos de Garrigos
Learn moreSan Fernando Castle
San Fernando Castle, located on the hill of Monte Tossal, is a fortress built in the 19th century during the War of Independence.
Civil War Air Raid Shelters
Civil War Air Raid Shelters
Learn moreTorres de la Huerta
Torres de la Huerta
Learn moreOther Monuments
Alicante hosts a wide variety of lesser-known but equally fascinating monuments. Among them are the imposing Principal Theatre, the Alicante Provincial Council Building, the Casa de las Brujas, the Casa Mediterraneo, the Portalet Palace, the Mirador de Santa Cruz, or the old tobacco factory, now transformed into the Las Cigarreras Cultural Center.
Religious Monuments
Co-cathedral of San Nicolas
Co-cathedral of San Nicolas
Located in the heart of the old town, the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas is a clear example of Renaissance austerity, boasting an impressive blue dome visible from various points in the city. Dedicated to San Nicolas de Bari, Alicante’s patron saint, this temple exudes peace and devotion, making it one of the city's key religious and cultural landmarks.
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Basilica of Santa Maria
Basilica of Santa Maria
The Basilica of Santa Maria, the oldest church in Alicante, is a treasure of Valencian Gothic style. Built on the remains of an ancient mosque, its imposing Baroque facade and interior adorned with sacred art make it one of the city's most significant religious monuments, a must-see for history and architecture enthusiasts.
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Monastery of La Santa Faz
Monastery of La Santa Faz
Just a few kilometers from Alicante’s center lies the Monastery of Santa Faz, a site of great importance to the locals. Inside, it houses a valuable relic believed to be a fragment of the cloth with which Veronica wiped Christ’s face on his way to Calvary. Each year, thousands of pilgrims flock to this monastery during the traditional pilgrimage bearing its name, one of the city’s most important festivities.
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Co-cathedral of San Nicolas
Co-cathedral of San Nicolas
Learn moreBasilica of Santa Maria
Basilica of Santa Maria
Learn moreMonastery of La Santa Faz
Monastery of La Santa Faz
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Featured news
Resolución del procedimiento y minoración de subvención directa a favor de Universidad de Alicante, regulada a través del Convenio entre el Patronato de Turismo y Playas del Ayuntamiento de Alicante y la Universidad de Alicante, para la financiación de la Cátedra de Turismo Ciudad de Alicante, anualidad 2024
09/01/2025
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