Alicante, Spain

Alicante, Spain
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alicante_la_ciudad_26_dic_2010.jpg
Author: DreferComm


Alicante is the capital of the province of Alicante, on the southern part of the Valencian Community, in Spain. It covers 201.27 sq km (77.71 sq mi) and has a population of 334,000 people (2012 estimate), making it the second largest city in Valencian Community after the capital, Valencia.

View of Alicante, Spain, from the Castell de Santa Bárbara
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alicante_view_from_Castillo_4.JPG
Author: Superchilum


Human habitation in the Alicante area goes back 7,000 years. As early as 1,000 BC, Greek and Phoenician traders were already visiting the area, establishing trading settlements along the eastern coast of Spain. The earliest settlement in Alicante is believed to be Akra Leuka, established by the Carthaginian in the 3rd century BC. The settlement was later captured by the Romans, who ruled over Hispania Tarraconensis for some 700 years. At that time, Alicante was known as Lucentum.

Presbytery of the Basilica of Santa María, Alicante
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basílica_de_santa_Maria_d%27Alacant,_presbiteri.JPG
Author: Joanbanjo


With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Alicante fell under the rule of the Visigoths. They in turn were replaced by the Moors, from the 8th to the 11th century. It became part of the Kingdom of Valencia in 1298.

Today Alicante establishes itself as a port for cruise ships, developing its tourism industry as its manufacturing base goes into decline. The city spreads out along the coast with the hill of Castell de Santa Bárbara looming over it.

Castell de la Santa Bárbara, Alicante
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castillo_Santa_Barbara.JPG
Author: Karolsl

Alicante on the map

Places of Interest in Alicante

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