You can start your acquaintance with this city from Iglesia de Santa Maria church. It was built in 15th-16th centuries and features a splendid example of gothic architecture. The church is built on the place of ancient mosque and reminds of the victory in the battle against Moors, who have ruled the city for a long time. Wonderful valleys and public gardens have been created nearby the church. If you walk them through, you will reach the Museum of Art of XX century. The halls of the museum feature the works of Braque, Kandinsky, Ernst, Picasso, Chagall, Gris and Miro.
| Number of inhabitants | 332,000 |
| Local currency | Euro, €1 = 100 cents |
| Working hours | Smaller, privately-owned shops are mainly open from 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.30. Big supermarkets, larger chains and shopping malls stay open from 10.00 to 22.00, Mons to Sats. Shops are closed on Sundays. Most banks stay open from Mon to Fri from 8.30 to 14-14.30. Only some branches open on Sat mornings. |
| Related sites |
http://www.alicanteturismo.com http://www.comunidadvalenciana.com http://www.spain.info |
| Major newspapers and journals |
Información La Verdad Costa Blanca News |
| Emergency telephone numbers |
112 Emergencies 091 Police 062 Guardia Civil |