Alicante Tourist Information

The rich and varied history of the region has offered Alicante with a lot of monuments and structures which tell the tale of its glorious past. All the civilizations have left their mark on the land, and today they are important heritage structures and have been proudly and carefully preserved.

• The Castle of Santa Barbara:

Situated on the Benacantil Mountain, this castle commands several panoramic views of the town and the vast expanse of the ocean. It was strategically important to protect the region from invaders. The castle has withstood several attacks through history. There are three distinct traits to be seen from the 14th, 16th and 18th centuries in its three main buildings. Remains from the Bronze-age have been discovered on this site. Today, it stands as a fine testimonial to the magnificent history of the region. It is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe. It was opened to the public in 1963; and since then it holds a great attraction for the tourists who visit the region. Two lifts have been installed inside the mountain along with other facilities for the visitors. The castle is divided into three sections: Torreta, place where the old keep “Torre de Homenaje” can be found, the intermediary enclosure including the most important rooms, out of which of note is the Salon of Felipe II, and the Parade Ground, and the lower enclosure, dating from the XVIII century where the “Revellin of Bon Repos” is located. The Castle also houses the CAPA exhibition for Spanish modern sculptures. The collection from the 19th and 20th century, features works of artists such as Benlliure, Macho, Inurria, Oteiza, and Dali
There is a rock formation which resembles a human face
Address:
Frente Playa Postiguet, 03001
Telephone: Phone +34 965 15 29 69.

Castillo de Santa Barbara: :

• The City Hall:

At the foot of the Castle Mountain are the vestiges of the old town with narrow winding alleys and lanes. The most significant building from ancient times is the City Hall, or the Palacio Municipal. This vast structure is an excellent example of Baroque architecture with two original twin towers. The highlight of a visit to the city hall will be the “Cota Cero”- a circular disc placed at the foot of the main staircase. This disc is used as the reference point to measure all the altitudes in Spain. The Blue Rooms and the Salon de Planos are also worth visiting inside the building.
Address:
Plaza de Ayuntamiento, 1
Telephone: Phone +34 965 14 91 10
Times: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 2 pm.
Saturdays: 9 am to 1 pm. Closed on Sundays.

96 514 91 00.

: : Ayuntamiento de Alicante

• Sant Nicholas De Bari Con-Cathedral:

The construction of this pro-cathedral is in the Herrera style with only one nave and several chapels.  It was built in the 17th century; though the cloister dates from the 15th Century. The Baroque style main chapel has beautiful doorways; and the baroque altar of Saint Nicolas is in the apse in the center.

The lower and upper parts of the Presbytery contain the altars of the two patron saints of Alicante, St. Nicholas de Bari and the Virgen del Remedio. There is an important series of grilles from the 18th century in the cloister, as well as an organ from that century. The steps of the high altar are made of marble from Genoa.

: : Sant Nicholas de Bari

• Iglesia de Santa Maria:

The Santa Maria Church is the oldest church in Alicante. Its origins date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. It was built in the Gothic style, with a Baroque façade. The carrara marble front is very impressive with an image of the Virgin by the sculptor Juan Bautista Borja. The high altar in Rococo gold leaf makes for an imposing sculpture. The church houses several important works of art; as well as an important document collection, the oldest piece being an incunabulum dating from the 13th century.  

: : Iglesia de Santa Maria

Address:
Plaza de Santa Maria, s/n 03002
Tel. +34 965216026
Times: 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm. 
Free Admission

• Tossal De Manises Iberian Settlement:

This area has been declared a historic, artistic monument in 1961. Here, the remains of the fortified Roman city of “Lucentum” can be found. Spread over an area of 30,000sq. Km, it still is under excavation and much remains to be discovered. You can take a walk through the site to see the remains of the ancient fountains, domes, hot springs, shops etc. If you want to delve deeper, guided tours are available on request.

Tossal : :

Closed: Sunday afternoons and Mondays.