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 Lying
on the Eastern coast of Spain, Alicante has it all: parties, discos,
festivals, castles - and if that isn't enough - hot sun, white sand beaches
and a turquoise sea. Of course, something so good can't stay hidden for
ever, and Alicante and the towns along the Costa Blanca (White Coast) are
now among Europe's most heavily visited regions.
If you
want a secluded beach, or to be anywhere outdoors without being part of a
crowd, don't come during the summer high season. But if you're looking for
sunshine, all-night disco parties and hundreds of thousands of potential new
friends, you've come to the right place.
It's best to start exploring Alicante on the beachfront, along the city's
main pedestrian walkway, the Explanada de España. Spread out in front of the
main part of the city, this elegant boulevard, stretching around the
harbour, is shaded with palm trees and lined with shops and cafes.
Explanada de España Northwest of the Explanada, towards the center of the
city, you'll see the imposing Catedral de San Nicolas, and around it, the
narrow streets of the El Barro, or old quarter, which has most of the
cheaper accommodation and the best nightlife. To the southwest, near the
Calle de Italia, you'll find the main tourist office, post office, and the
city's central bus and train stations.
Alicante is a hive of activity throughout the year, not just in the summer
months. It's a city where the sand seems to go on forever…and so does the
entertainment. It's a city steeped in history, rich in culture, awash with
every kind of shop and restaurant imaginable and literally bursting with
beach life.
Stroll along the palm-fringed Paseo de la Explanada - the impressive
seafront promenade lined with street cafes and inlaid with red, cream and
black marble. Stop at the music pavilion and enjoy a free al fresco concert
by the sea. Concerts are held in the afternoons, on feast days and on Sunday
mornings during the summer months.
Alicante Website:
www.alicanteturismo.com
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In a privileged
position on the northeastern coast of the Iberian peninsula and the shores
of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain in both
size and population. It is also the capital of Catalonia, 1 of the 17
Autonomous Communities that make up Spain.
There are two official languages spoken in Barcelona: Catalan, generally
spoken in all of Catalonia, and Castillian Spanish. The city of Barcelona
has a population of 1.510.000, but this number spirals to more than
4.000.000 if the outlying areas are also included.
The capital of Catalonia is unequivocally a Mediterranean city, not only
because of its geographic location but also and above all because of its
history, tradition and cultural influences. The documented history of the
city dates back to the founding of a Roman colony on its soil in the second
century B.C. Modern Barcelona experienced spectacular growth and economic
revival at the onset of industrialization during the second half of the 19th
century. The 1888 World's Fair became a symbol of the capacity for hard work
and the international outlook projected by the city. Culture and the arts
flourished in Barcelona and in all of Catalonia; the splendor achieved by
Catalonian modernism is one of the most patent displays.
Barcelona, more than just a single city, is really a collection of
multi-faceted and diverse cities. The visitor unfamiliar with its history
might be surprised that such a modern and enterprising city preserves its
historic Gothic center almost intact, or by the curious contrast between the
maze of narrow streets and the grid-like layout of the Eixample, the urban
planning "Enlargement" project of the end of the 19th century.
Barcelona
Website:
www.barcelonaturisme.com |
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