Alicante Costa Blanca Spain
The city of Alicante is located on the Mediterranean’s Costa Blanca, and is the capital of the province of Alicante in the Valencian Community.
Alicante lies 81 km (50 miles) north of Murcia, 40 km (25 miles) south of Benidorm, 172 km (107 miles) south of Valencia, and 417 km (259 miles) southeast of Madrid.
The population of the city of Alicante was 334,757, estimated as of 2009, ranking as the second-largest Valencian city.
Alicante has grown from a village under many sieges of war under the watchful eyes of Castillo de Santa Barbara to the second largest city in the Valencia providence. This bustling City of the Sun is nestled between the mountains and the sea and its microclimate makes for a wonderful visit year round.
Alicante has some of the finest beaches, stretching for several kilometers and attracting countless sun worshippers and pleasure seekers. Alicante enjoys Mediterranean climate with mild temperatures throughout the year and little rain, concentrated in equinoctial periods. The temperature on average is between 16.8° and 6.2° in January and between 30.6° and 20.4° in August, with the average annual temperature of 17.8°.
Sun, sea and sand is what attracts visitors to the beaches in the area, such as the Playa de San Juan with 5km of golden sand with all facilities. Venture past its clear, clean aqua colour water and take a stroll in the city along the Explanada promenade surrounded by softly swaying palms, terrace cafes and tri-colour marble mosaic tiles below your feet.
The impressive Paseo Maritimo port was the starting point of the Volvo 2008 Alicante and consists of shops, an entertainment centre and a cinema.
Alicante offers a good selection of hotel accommodation and self catering apartments in Alicante.
Places to see in Alicante
Alicante historical district, El Barrio, tenders winding streets and is where many points of interest are located. Some of the highlights include:
Ayuntamiento – The Town Hall is a prime example of Baroque design and you will descend upon your entrance into El Barrio.
MARQ Mueso Arqueologico Provincial de Alicante – Elected European Museum of the Year in 2004, the MARQ is an innovated hi-tech architectonical museum and that will thrill the whole family. Civilizations from prehistory to modern day are covered.
Palacio Gravina – Housed in an 18th Century palace of Count of Lumiares and his family, the Gravina Museum of Fine Arts is home to a phenomenal collection of artwork. The permanent collection features an impressive 500 works by major artists of the 16th through 20th centuries.
Mueso de la Asagurada – This casa dates back to 1685 and has been carefully restored to its former glory. It now houses a collection of 20th century fine arts with the majority loaned by Alicante art collector, Eusebio Sempere. Within the collection you will find Miró, DalÃ, Picasso, Juan Gris and Julio González.
Las Hogueras Museum de Sant Joan – One of the most important festivals in Alicante is the highlight each year in June celebrating St. John. Needless to say, if you can not make it, there is a museum which one can learn all about the festival’s history. On display are old posters and advertisements, costumes, photos and videos. It will be almost like attending the festival.
Iglesia de Santa Maria – No town in Spain would be without a church and the Iglesia de Santa de Maria is one of the prettiest and oldest in El Barrio.
Alicante Airport, Aeropuerto de Alicante-Elche or El Altet, is among the busiest airports in Spain after Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Málaga and keeps expanding. The El Altet International Airport is 10 km (6 miles) southwest of the city centre. It is connected with Madrid and Barcelona by frequent Iberia and Spanair flights, and with many Western European cities through carriers such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Monarch Airlines, and Jet2.com. From the airport there are also regular flights to Algeria and Russia.
Alicante railway station is used by the long distance high speed RENFE trains which run frequently to Madrid and Barcelona.
The Tram connects the city with outlying settlements along Costa Blanca. Currently it runs up to Benidorm and onto Denia, with plans to connect it to Oliva and Gandia. Electric tram-trains run up to Benidorm, and diesel trains go further to Denia.
The city has regular ferry services to the Balearic Islands and Algeria.
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UK TV in Alicante – how to receive UK TV in Alicante
The Sat and PC Guy installs and maintains Digital Satellite Television Systems, for reception of UK TV in Alicante.
Reception of satellite TV channels from the BBC an ITV can be achieved using a minimum of a 110x120cm satellite dish or the recommended 125x135cm satellite dish.
We install Digital Terrestrial Television, TDT, Spain Freeview for Spanish TV reception in Alicante. Depending on your location to the TDT transmitters, you can receive around 30 digital television channels, with the option change the language on many programmes into English.