Alicante

This thoroughly Spanish city has a truly Mediterranean air; its wide esplanades, such as the Rambla de Mendez Nuñez and the Avenida Alfonso el Sabio, and its seafront promenades, full of terrace cafés, are perfect for relaxation. A city of contrasts, Alicante also has a distinctly African flavor, with women clad in caftans, and hawkers selling African carvings along the waterfront and esplanades. The historical central quarter, though, is filled with Baroque buildings, bearing testimony to the city’s past when it was a major seaport. Alicante’s past is that of any other corner of the Mediterranean Sea. Founded by the Greeks who named it Akra Leuke (White Peak), it was later captured by the Romans who renamed it Lucentum (City of Light). In the second half of the eighth century it was conquered by the Moors, and the city was finally retaken in 1246 for the Castillian crown. In 1308 it was incorporated in to the Kingdom of Valencia. Today Alicante is the second largest city in the Valencian Country, and receives millions of visitors through its airport and its harbor each year. With its long sandy beaches, mild and pleasant climate, vibrant festivals, recently renovated old town and lively night life, this is definitely a city to spend some time in.