49 Interesting Alicante Facts About This Spanish City For Kids

Alicante is a Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast.

It's a large conglomeration made up of several towns. Benidorm is one of the most well-known town of all.

Alicante is a place is well-known for its 'old' inhabitants. There were several conquerors, including Greeks, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Moors.

Here are a few interesting Alicante facts for you to learn.

• The Romans dubbed the city 'Lucentem,' which translates as 'City of Light.'
• The Moors erected the Castillo de Santa Barbara in the 10th century. It is one of Europe's largest medieval fortifications.
• The Explanada de Espana promenade is lined with 400 palm trees and 6.6 million marble tiles, all in red, black, or cream. The ideal location for an evening stroll along the shore.
• Alicante cuisine includes a lot of rice. Every year, more than 128.8 ton (115 met ton) are produced in the surrounding region.
• Tapas originated in Alicante. They used to serve little delicacies on a slice of bread to travelers.
• People in Alicante speak both Spanish and Valenciano, which are two distinct languages.
• British European Airways created the name Costa Blanca as a promotional gimmick for flights to Valencia.
• Benidorm, a neighboring town, was the first tourist destination to allow bikinis on the beach. In the year 1950, it was also a tourist promotional gimmick.
• Santa Barbara's Castle in the Costa Blanca capital is 545 ft (166 m) above sea level.
• Every year, the Alicante port city handles around 9 million passengers.

Where is Alicante?

Alicante is located on the Mediterranean Sea's coast in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, the eastern part of Spain.

• The Cap de l'Horta, the Serra Grossa, the Tossal, and the Benacantil mountain are some of the orographic features that rise above the generally flat landscape on which Alicante is situated.
• The city of Alicante is located in an arid region and lacks any significant permanent water source other than the beach.
• There are various stream beds that correlate to intermittent Ramblas. There was a marsh region in the municipality's northeast, l'Albufereta, but it dried up in 1928 due to excess sunlight and heat.
• The province of Costa Blanca is bounded to the north by Valencia, to the south by Murcia, and to the east by the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Montgo is a peak in Alicante Province, Spain, that rises to 2,470 ft (753 m), the 'white mountain.'

What is the history of Alicante city?

The church of Santa María is Alicante, Spain's oldest operational church. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, it was erected in the Valencian Gothic church over the ruins of the main Arab mosque. It has tiles mainly in cream colors. This style can be seen in most parts of Costa Blanca.

• The Alicante region has been inhabited for about 7000 years.
• On the slopes of Benacantil mountain, the oldest fortified settlement was established.
• By 1000 BC, Greek and Phoenician traders had begun to reach the eastern coast of Spain, to the city of Alicante. They established minor commercial ports and taught the alphabet, iron, and the pottery wheel to the local Iberian tribes.
• The tourism business began a long-term makeover of the city in the late '50s and early '60s. Large structures and complexes erupted in nearby Albufereta.
• The pleasant weather was the main appeal for prospective purchasers and visitors, who kept the hotels moderately full.
• The expansion of the tourism industry created new companies like restaurants, bars, and other tourist-oriented industries, which helped the whole economy.
• In addition, the old Rabassa airport was closed, and aviation traffic was relocated to the new El Altet Airport. This provided a more convenient and contemporary facility for charter flights carrying visitors from northern European nations.
• Since the city's industrial downturn in the '80s, the Port of Alicante has been reinventing itself.
• The Port City Authority has established it as one of the most important ports in Spain for cruises in recent years, with 72 calls to port made by cruise ships in 2007.
• It brings 80,000 passengers and 30,000 crew to the city each year.
• The moves to develop the port for more tourism have been welcomed by the city and its residents.

Population And Weather Of Alicante

In 2020, the official population of Alicante was 337,482 people, with 768,194 in the metropolitan region 'Alicante-Elche' and 1,863 million in 2019. By 2020, around 20–25% of the population will be foreign, the majority of whom will be immigrants from North Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe. 

• The Castillo de Santa Barbara dates back to the ninth century, under the city's Muslim dominance.
• Other nations with a significant population of Alicante, immigrants include Russia, France, Ukraine, Romania, China, Cuba, Brazil, Italy, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Dominican Republic.
• Because the Alicante metropolitan region is home to many Northern European seniors who are technically still residents of their native countries, the true percentage of foreign inhabitants is greater. A substantial percentage of the semi-permanent population are Spanish nationals who are still legally residing in Madrid, Castilla y León, the Basque Country, or other parts of Spain.
• The city of Alicante has mild winters, hot summers, and minimal rain, which falls mostly during the equinoctial times.
• According to the Köppen climatic classification, the city, like much of the Province of Alicante, has a hot, semi-arid climate. Because of the stabilizing impact of the sea, daily temperature differences are normally minor.
• However, occasional spells of westerly wind can bring temperature shifts of 27 F (15 C) or more.
• Temperature differences are also minimal, implying mild winters and hot summers.
• The annual average rainfall is 10.9 in (277 mm). Because of the cold snap, September and October are indeed the heaviest rain months.
• Rainfall may be torrential at times, exceeding 4 in (100 mm) in a 24-hour period and causing catastrophic flooding. Because of this unpredictability, the average number of rainy days per year is 35.
• The yearly number of sunlight hours is 2,851. Alicante has one of the sunniest and warmest winter daytime temperatures on the continent.

What are the famous tourist spots in Alicante?

The Castle of Santa Barbara and the harbor of Alicante are two of the city's most famous landmarks. The latter was the subject of a fierce debate in 2006–2007 when people successfully fought to save it from being turned into industrial development.

• The Explanada de Espaa promenade, bordered by palm trees, is covered with 6.5 million marble floor tiles, forming a wavy pattern, and is one of Spain's most beautiful promenades.
• The Promenade runs from the Port of Alicante to the Gran Va and terminates with the iconic Mark Hersch monument.
• The promenade serves as a gathering area for the traditional Spanish paseo, or evening stroll along the waterfront, as well as a site for outdoor musical events for the residents of Alicante. A monument by the 19th-century artist Bauls stands at the end of the promenade.
• Barrio de la Santa Cruz is a vibrant historic city area located southwest of Santa Barbara Castle. Its modest cottages climb the hill that leads to the walls of the castle, along narrow alleyways festooned with flags and flower pots. Do not forget to taste tapas, the little delicacies.
• L'Ereta Park is located at the base of Mount Benacantil. It stretches from the Santa Barbara castle down to the ancient town of Alicante and has numerous levels, paths, decks, and rest spots with panoramic views of the city. The Castillo de Santa Barbara is a mesmerizing place to visit.
• El Palmeral Park is one of the most popular parks in Alicante. It has walking routes, recreation areas, wetlands, brooks, picnic tables, and a music auditorium.
• Tabarca Island is located in the Mediterranean Sea, just a small distance away from Alicante. What was once a sanctuary for Barbary pirates is today a lovely tourist destination.
• The Church of Santa Maria, was constructed in the Gothic church over the previous main Arab mosque. This holds a major place in Christian history and is a well-known pilgrimage spot. Other highlights include a Rococo-style high altar and a Baroque-style gateway. It is made up of tiles of cream-colors.
• The St. Nicholas of Bari co-cathedral was constructed above a mosque. It is Alicante's principal church and the bishop's seat.
• Ciudad de la Luz has the largest film studios in the capital of Alicante. More than 60 movies have been shot in Ciudad de la Luz, the largest film studio here, mostly in Spanish.
• Built in the Baroque style, Santa Faz Monastery is near the white coast of Alicante. The name 'Costa Blanca' is representative of the white coast.
• The Huerta de Alicante defense towers were designed to guard against Barbary pirates. There are still about 20 towers standing now.
• Alicante, the capital of Alicante province, is a popular Spanish city.
• One can relish tasty Spanish cuisine in famous restaurants. The street food is also very famous. Churros, tortillas and many such specialties can be savored in the place of one's choice. You can enjoy it indoors or on the beach side.