Culture of Alicante. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Santa Barbara Fortress remains one of the main symbols of the city. The fortress was built on a high cliff. Previously the site of the castle housed numerous fortifications as from ancient times Mount Benacantil has had an important strategic purpose. There are several viewing platforms near the castle, from which everybody can enjoy panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean coast. The Monastery of the Holy Face (Monasterio de la Santa Faz) is an important religious site. The monastery was opened in 1766. Its walls keep valuable religious artifacts. Each year in May the monastery is visited by thousands of pilgrims.

The church of St. Nicholas is another place worth visiting. The building of the church took place in the middle of the 17th century. The Cathedral is built in a unique architectural style of herreresco and has got its name in honor of the patron saint of the city. St. Nicholas protects travelers, so attending the beautiful cathedral by tourists is even more symbolic. Esplanade Avenue is simply the best place for walking. Along the beautiful avenue adorned with a mosaic pattern grow slender palm trees, and the cafes located on the street sell the best ice cream in the city. In the evening the boulevard often hosts music concerts. There is also a special pavilion in the form of a shell built specially for cultural events.

Among the cultural institutions of the city we should definitely mention Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art, which exhibits a large collection of sculptures and paintings by local artists. A visit to Provincial Museum of Archaeology will be another unforgettable journey. In 2004 the museum received the proud title of the best museum of Europe. Many of the items exhibited there are related to the period of the Stone Age. Of course, there is a rich collection of artifacts from later periods. There are also more original institutions in the city, such as Museum of Fire and Museum of Wells located in Garrigos district. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Any large Spanish city (especially if it is located in Valencia or Andalusia) must have its own Plaza de Toros. Alicante is certainly not an exception – the local Plaza de Toros is famous for its extraordinary grandeur. Even if it is not possible to get to the bullfight, the building is worth a visit for the simple reason that it is an excellent architectural structure. Nearby you can see a museum dedicated to bullfighting (Museo Taurino de Alicante), where among the exhibits you can find photos of famous matadors, paraphernalia, costumes, posters of battles, and stuffed heads of defeated bulls. You would be pleased to know that you do not have to pay an admission fee in order to visit the museum.

The city also has other religious attractions that are worth visiting. First of all, it is worth noting the Basilica of Santa Maria, which features a beautiful bas-relief and amazingly beautiful altar. The time of construction of the temple dates back to the 14th century. The church was erected on the site of a destroyed mosque, representing some kind of symbol of independent Spain. The building is of high historical value, because at different times it served purposes. For instance, during the Civil War, it was used as an ammunition depot. At this time, the image of the Virgin Mary was stolen and the organ was destroyed. The local people consider it to be the most important temple.

From an architectural point of view, Casa Carbonell is quite impressive. This is a residential building located in the city center at the beautiful square Explanada d’ Espanya. Majority considers this building as a symbol of Alicante, and cannot imagine its whole appearance without it. The building was erected in 1925 according to the design of Juan Vidal Ramos. In the architectural aspect you can recognize the Beaux-Arts style, and in the facade – neoclassicism. Looking at this building, you involuntarily start feeling jealousy towards the locals who are fortunate enough to live here. In front of the building there is another one that is striking in its exterior. It is the Hotel Plaza. The buildings (Casa Carbonell and Hotel Plaza) are separated by a beautiful fountain.

There are several interesting monuments in Alicante. Monumento a Canalejas, Estatua de Icaro, El Panteon de Quijano, Valle de Los Caidos – these names are only a fraction of the fascinating sculptural structures, which you should definitely discover in the city. Connoisseurs of archeology and anthropology will be delighted at the opportunity to visit the Tossal de Manises, or Lucentum. The building brings to mind the ancient Roman times in the history of Alicante. There are still a lot of monuments of the Roman preserved here. The nearby museum has collections of findings from the excavations, and the place itself is located near the beach San Juan.

Museo de Hogueras is one of the most colorful museums in the entire region. The fact is that it is dedicated to the holiday called Hogueras de San Juan. Here among the exhibits carnival figurines are displayed, and there is no better place to get to know the local traditions. The museum can only compete with the Plaza de Toros. It is also interesting to visit Diputacion Provincial de Alicante, attracting visitors’ attention from the very first sight. You can sit here in the shade of the garden, turning away from the rest of the world. You will also be getting away from all the pressing problems as well as enjoying the beautiful flora species – ficuses, trees.