Alicante is the capital of the Costa Blanca and the second city of the Valencian Community —around 340,000 people—, facing the Mediterranean with one of the best climates in Europe: more than 300 days of sun a year.
Its signature image is Santa Bárbara Castle, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, on Mount Benacantil with 360-degree views over the bay. At its foot, the old town of the Santa Cruz quarter, the Explanada de España with its wavy mosaic, and Postiguet beach a step from the centre.
From the port, a boat sails to Tabarca Island, a marine reserve and the only inhabited island in the Community. And all around opens the Costa Blanca: Benidorm and its theme parks, Altea, Calpe, Jávea and the inland village of Guadalest. The city is seen in one or two days and is an ideal base for the province.
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