Alicante. A Spanish City of Contrasts.

When still in the U.S., planning my escape to Europe, I pinpointed three Spanish cities to consider as places to live. They were Barcelona, Valencia, and Alicante. All three were nestled along the Mediterranean coast with its abundant sunshine and mild winters. All three offered cultural experiences, were graced with historic architecture, and possessed modern airports.

My flight to Europe landed in Barcelona, so that was the city I explored first. It was a fascinating metropolis with much to offer, but it didn't feel like “home.”

Barcelona's gorgeous cityscape.

Then I took the train to Valencia. When I disembarked at the magnificent Estació del Nord (North train station) I immediately fell in love with the city. I never made it to Alicante.   

Valencia's Estació del Nord train station.

I felt I owed it to myself to at least visit Alicante to see if I had missed out on something special. A friend had entered her Aussies in a dog show in that city, and that was the nudge I needed to make the trip.
I arrived by train several days before the dog show so I'd have time to explore and take photos of the city. Alicante's train station is thoroughly modern, in contrast to Valencia's Estació del Nord.

Alicante's railway station.

I walked from the train station to my AirBnB apartment, following Google Maps on my phone. Because I'm directionally impaired even with a map, I took a wrong turn and found myself on San Francisco Street, which is also known as “Mushroom Street.”

I was quite surprised by San Francisco Street's Alice-in-Wonderland atmosphere in this very Spanish town. Actually, I enjoyed it so much I wandered back through it two more times during my stay.

In contrast to the modern, whimsical theme of San Francisco Street, a few blocks away was the richly carved entrance to the Edificio Caturla.

There's much about Alicante that reflects its history, which dates back thousands of years. What impressed me most were the contrasts between old and new, rich and poor, traditional Spain and modern Spain.

Santa Barbara Castle watches over Alicante from the top of Benacantil Mountain, 166 meters (545 feet) above sea level. ​

Construction of the city's ancient castle began in the 9th century. Its base is surrounded by glittering new offices, apartment buildings, and restaurants.

In summer, Alicante transforms from a quiet Spanish town into a sunny playground for thousands of Spanish, British, Germans, and Russians on holiday. The Explanada de España (esplanade or prominade of Spain) parallels the port and is a favorite place for strolling. 

I loved the gorgeous Explanada de España. It's lined on both sides with rows of palm trees and the walkway is decorated with 6½ million marble tiles that create a wave effect. Brilliant design! ​

Shopping fun on the Explanade at open-air stalls.

The Explanade is lined with restaurants and shops on one side and the marina on the opposite side. ​

If you're in the market for a new sailboat or yacht, you might find one here. Sailing buffs can also take a trip through history at the Volvo Ocean Race Museum.

Facing the marina are buildings old and new that stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

The modern four-star Gran Sol Hotel and Restaurant overlooks Alicante's marina.

Right next door to the Gran Sol Hotel is the elegant, historic Edeficio Carbonella.

After strolling up and down the Explanade, I headed through an archway that took me back in time to the Old Town.  

Archway connecting modern Alicante with its Old Town.

As soon as I reached the Old Town side of the archway, I was greeted by the splendid Casa Consistorial (city council building) on Plaza Santísima Faz. The Consistorial is a baroque palace that was constructed between 1696 – 1780. I found the doors particularly beautiful.

Gorgeous doorway to the Casa Consistorial. When I was in Art School I was not a fan of Baroque architecture. I am now!

Massive main entrance to the Casa Consistorial.

Door handle and lock plate details. The face of the door was some type of metal that had a “quilted” texture. ​

I continued walking into the Old Town, up cobblestone streets, passing by outdoor cafes and small shops in narrow alleys.

I peeked into this charming historic hotel on a side street of Alicante.

I turned off my Google Maps app and wandered. I found my self in the really old Old Town.

Ancient stone steps led up to tiny homes clinging to a hillside. Loved the Spanish flag proudly displayed!

There were several small groups of people trudging up a hill on a dusty road. I followed them, thinking they might lead me to something interesting. Oh yes! They did!

The entire trip to Alicante was worth it just to see the exquisite Basílica de Santa Maria.

I become giddy with excitement when I see incredible beauty like this. Breathtaking! Note: Finding a scene as beautiful as this is called a “Photographic Emergency.” I must, I repeat MUST, stop and take photos.

Dusk was settling in as I trundled back down the hill to my AirBnB apartment, which was right in the middle of Old Town.

My AirBnB apartment in Alicante was an eclectic blend of rustic and modern. It was perfectly situated in the Old Town, close to everything. Loved it!

Saturday morning arrived and I was up and out the door to the dog show. I cheered as my friend showed her Aussies, took photos of unusual breeds, and sampled local cuisine at food stands—but that's another blog post.
After the show Sunday, I caught the train back home to Valencia. I enjoyed visiting Alicante, and now I know I made the perfect choice of cities in which to live.

Gratuitous selfie taken while waiting for the train home. Hey! I didn't know all the writing would be backwards!