Alicante

Alicante (Alacant) is the capital of the Costa Blanca and one of Spain's most enjoyable medium-sized cities — a place where authentic Spanish city life and excellent beaches coexist in an uncommonly liveable combination. It sits on a natural harbour dominated by the Santa Bárbara Castle rising from a sheer cliff above the city, and its combination of medieval quarter, grand 19th-century boulevards and seafront promenade gives it genuine urban character. Santa Bárbara Castle, reached by a lift through the cliff (or a steep walk), is one of the largest medieval castles in Spain, with an exceptional hilltop setting and views extending along the Costa Blanca in both directions. The old quarter (Barrio de la Santa Cruz), climbing the slopes below the castle, is a tightly woven neighbourhood of whitewashed houses and flower-filled balconies that is genuinely charming. The Explanada de España, the seafront promenade inlaid with 6.5 million coloured marble chips in a wave pattern, is one of the most attractive promenades in Spain. The Marq (Archaeological Museum of Alicante) is one of Spain's best regional archaeology museums. The central market is excellent for local produce. Alicante's tapas culture is strong and affordable; the local rice dishes (paella, arroz a banda) are excellent. Las Hogueras de San Juan festival in June (enormous papier-mâché figures that are ultimately burned, similar to Valencia's Las Fallas) is one of Spain's most spectacular summer celebrations. Day trips to the island of Tabarca (the smallest inhabited island in Spain) and Elche's palm forest are excellent.