Alicante
Alicante is one of the most popular resorts on the Spanish Costa Blanca. It is believed that it was founded by the father of the famous commander Hannibal, and its name comes from the Greek words "acra levka", which can be translated as "white peak", which, due to the influence of the Arabic language, turned into "Alicante".
The history of Alicante is literally "inscribed" in its architecture, because each of the periods left its mark on it. One of the most beautiful buildings in Alicante is the Basilica of St. Mary, built on the site of an old mosque. The temple was repeatedly completed and rebuilt, which is why part of it is made in the Gothic style, and part - in the Baroque style. Next to it is the famous castle-fortress of St. Barbara. Previously, it served as a defensive function, but now it has become a favorite place for tourists - as it stands on a hill, it offers an amazing view of the surroundings. Another fortress - San Fernando fortress - was built on the other side of the city, and it is also open to the public.
Alicante is a noisy and bustling city with restaurants where you can have fun around the clock. During the day, guests and locals love to stroll along the Esplanade Boulevard, lined with quaint mosaics, and in wonderful evenings you can sit in one of the bars or dance in a nightclub.
And if you want privacy, you can go to the island of Tabarka, located near the coast. Thanks to its unique flora and fauna, the waters around it have received the status of a reserve.
One of the "highlights" of Alicante is its famous festival called Las Hogueras de San Juan or Bonfires of St. John. This grandiose action begins in mid-June and is associated with the summer solstice. For a whole week, the city celebrates and walks: street processions take place, open-air dances are arranged. Literally on every corner you can see some huge papier-mâché figure, and explosions of firecrackers are heard everywhere. All this madness ends with an incredibly spectacular “night of fire” - on the last night of the holiday (from June 23 to 24), almost every papier-mâché figure is set on fire, after choosing the best one, which will be burned last. The festival is usually followed by a week of fireworks.