Alicante
Did you know that compared to the other major Spanish cities, Alicante is more popular among Spaniards than foreigners? While that’s easy to explain when you look at the visitor statistics for the most popular cities, Alicante is more interesting than people often think.
Do you decide to take a day trip? Then you cannot miss the Castillo de Santa Barbara. Alicante’s most iconic monument, named after the day (4 December 1248) that the city was liberated from its Moorish occupiers, sits at an altitude of 166 meters on top of the Benacantil. Although the castle has been renovated several times over serveral centuries, the most part of the castle dates from the sixteenth century during the reign of Felipe II.
Would you like to know more about the tradition of bullfighting in the city? Besides the Plaza de Toros bullring, which was built in 1847 and renovated in 1884, you can also visit the museum. Although the popularity of fighting has declined rapidly in the last fifteen years, it is currently banned in only two regions (Catalonia and the Canary Islands). By declaring the tradition an intangible cultural heritage in 2013, the Spanish Constitutional Court allowed the Spanish government to fight the abolition of it in several regions.
Do you prefer to explore the city with a guide? At Free Walking Tours Alicante you can book a one and a half to two and a half hour tour in English, French or Spanish. Afterwards you only pay what you think it is worth. Are you interested? You can find all the available tours, days and times on their website.
Shopping
Where the indoor market hall is open daily (except Sunday) from 07:00 to 14:30, the Mercadillo Teulada is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 08:00 to 14:00.
Festivities
The Fogueres de Sant Joan Festival (June 20-29) is originally a midsummer celebration that celebrated the longest day (with the largest harvest) and the shortest night (with the burning of useless objects). In 1928 it became an official festival where papier-mâché figures are being burned in honor of Sant Joan. Do you want to know more? A visit to the Museo de las Hogueras is free.