Fun things to do in Alicante

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This house was built in the first half of the XX century. They say that a businessman called Carbonell arrived to Alicante, dirty and ragged after an eventful journey. He intended to register in a nearby hotel but the concierge despised him. Then he decided to build such a house to outshine the hotel. He bought the plot where the market had been and ordered to build this house that is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful that stand now in Alicante.

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This former mosque was transformed into a Christian church by King Alfonso X the Wise. The cloister dates back to the XV century but the main body or the church was built in the Renaissance style of Juan de Herrera, by his disciple Agustín Bernardino, between 1616 and 1662. The exterior is very sober. The floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. The blue dome 45 m high is characteristic of this region. The Communion Chapel is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Spanish baroque.
The front of the cloister and the chapel of Saint Nicholas (the saint patron of the city) are also baroque. The image of Saint Nicholas is a work of Juan de Villanueva. The image of Cristo de la Buena Muerte (Nicolás de Bussi, XVII century) also outstands.

The church is co-cathedral of the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante since 1959.

The interior has recently been restored to house the exhibition La Luz de las Imágenes (The Light of Images) in Alicante.

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Also known as Plaza de Correos since the Post office (Correos) was in a building facing the square. It is dedicated to Grabriel Miró, a great writer and chronicler born in Alicante in 1879.

This is one of the nicest squares in downtown. Only a block of buildings separates the square from the Explanada. There is a big fountain in the center, with a nice sculpture of Vicente Bañuls. Around the fountain, we find big trees: Chile pines or Araucaria, tall palm trees and some centenary ficus (Ficus macrophylla).

When I was a child I used to play in this square with my friends. Later, the presence of drug addicts, prostitutes and pimps got children and families far away from this place. Girls used to avoid crossing the square, taking a long way around if necessary. Fortunately, some years ago the square has been recovered and it is again a place where people can walk, go with children, sit on a bench to read, wait for a friend, etc. without feeling scared or uncomfortable. There are even some restaurants and cafes around whose terraces are adjacent to the square.

The history
Many years ago, before the terrains occupied now by the Explanada and San Fernando street were gained to the sea, this place was called Plaza de las Barcas (Boats square). Later, it was named after the Queen Isabel II. At the end of the XIX century, a channel was built to take water from Sax and a basin was built in the center of the square to receive the water. This was later substituted by the fountain we see today.

The main theater in Alicante (teatro principal de Alicante) was build from 1846 to 1847, and was opened on the 25th of September 1847, the architect of the project was Emilio Jover Perrón.
At the theater it is possible to see different shows, theater etc., the theater holds concerts, musicals, lyric, comedians and much more. Most are held in Spanish, but I have put up this trip advice because maybe a visitor could be interested in going to an musical or a concert.
The webpage stated below update the acts held ongoing, so chek it out.

The Santa Maria Church was built over the remains of a mosque. The style is Gothic and dates from the 14th to the 16th century. t The high altar in Rococo gold leaf and the The Baroque doorway and the high altar in Rococo gold leaf are dating from the 18th century.

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This park is the continuation of the Explanada, but it is completely different. In this case, big hundred-year-old Ficus cover the promenade and offer a very good shade. There are decorative fountains in both ends.
Pic 4 shows the sculpture of Canalejas, between the Parque and the Explanada. José Canalejas was a Spanish politician: he was Minister (last decades of the XIX century), President of the Chamber and Prime Minister. He was shot to death by an anarchist in 1912.
When I was a child there used to be there some swings and a circuit of bumper cars, but they don’t exist anymore. I must say that it is not a good place to stay in the evenings.

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Its a lovely and lively place. One can enjoy the small fountains which change its color and height. People can touch the water, children are playful looking into the water and playing with it. Dogs are playing with water, occasionally barking at the fountains which change its shape and color unexpectedly. Its a place for civil wedding, too.

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This park is on the slope of mount Benacantil, near the ramparts of Santa Barbara Castle.

From this park there are very nice views of the port, the Cathedral and the Santa Cruz quarter.

There is a restaurant on the upper end of the park. Going down to the old quarter, you will see the Garrigos wells (pozos de Garrigós), some cisterns from which Alicante was provided water before it began to grow up in the 1950 and 1960 decades.

Nowadays there is a museum dedicated to water and the entrance to the wells is inside it.