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Do not miss!

Santa Barbara Castle

Located on the slopes of Mount Benacantil, throughout history it has held a very important strategic position due to its privileged outlook from where you can see the whole city of Alicante. The origins of today’s castle go back to the era of the Muslim rule in the ninth century. In the thirteenth century, the day of Santa Barbara, it was taken from the Moors, and since then maintains its current name. During the successive reigns, it underwent various refurbishments, and was opened to the public in 1963.
Where: Avenida Jovellanos, 03001 Alicante
Access: free access by road in front of Hotel Maya in Pla-Carolinas Neighbourhood / lift access: from Avenida Jovellanos (House Num. 1), beachside Postiguet (€2.40)

Medieval Wall in Alicante

The remains of medieval walls in Alicante built after the conquest of Alfonso X, are found near the town hall, and run along until reaching Lonja de Caballeros Street. Due to the population growth during the nineteenth century, some remains were demolished.
Where: Calle Mayor (corner with Jorge Juan St)

Terra Mitica Theme Park

Located in Benidorm, Terra Mitica is a theme park devoted solely to the amusement of adults and children. There are plenty of attractions where you will discover the characteristics of the different civilisations that once lived, and those that currently do on the shores of the Mediterranean: Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and the Mediterranean islands. You can learn more about all these civilisations through the more than 80 daily performances. The range of restaurants is varied and moreover you can take home with you a souvenir of your visit to the park by visiting one of the many stores available.

Where: Partida de Moralet, s/n, 03502 Benidorm
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

San Jaime Church

In the highest part of Benidorm’s old quarter, on Canfali hill, is where San Jaime Church is found, devoted to the patron saint of the city. It is of neoclassical style and is crowned with a blue dome. Inside the church there is a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Suffrage, patron saint of Benidorm.
Where: Plaza Castelar, 1, 03501 Benidorm
Tel: (+34) 965 854 024

Castle – Benidorm Lookout

The remains of the Castle of Benidorm, known as the Castle-Lookout, or also the Balcony of the Mediterranean, divide the beaches of this city. Virtually nothing of the castle has been preserved and some of the remains were lost during the construction of the maritime promenade.  However, from the great rock where the castle once stood, you can enjoy wonderful views.

Beaches of Costa Blanca

Undoubtedly, the Costa Blanca is one of the major tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. One of its main attractions is the weather and another, of course, its beaches, with over a hundred of them certified with the Blue Flag.
Along the entire coastline of Costa Blanca, there are long beaches with golden sands such as Los Arenales del Sol (Altea) or Playa de San Juan (Alicante), down to small and extraordinarily beautiful coves, such as Cala Les Rotes in Denia.

Guadalest Reservoir Cruise

One of the highlights of the Guadalest reservoir cruise is the boat that takes you. It is a forty-foot catamaran, powered exclusively by solar energy. With sunlight, it is totally self-powered and without sunlight, it can be powered for one hundred and fifty hours, with the capacity of sixty passengers. Furthermore it is unsinkable, as its two hulls are filled with expanded foam.

Where: Embalse de Guadalest (Alicante)
Tel: (+34) 636 037 910
Operating hours: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Saturday closed)
Price: €5.00
Further information: www.seacleaner.com

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Eating out

Manolín Nou Restaurant

This restaurant has been operating in Alicante for 35 years and has always offered the freshest market products such as vegetables and fresh fish brought from the fish market. It specialises in dishes from the region and rice prepared in different ways.
Where: Calle Villegas, 3, Alicante
Tel: (+34) 965 200 368
Further information: www.noumanolin.com

Las Gaviotas Fried Food Restaurant

One of the key points of this fried food restaurant in Benidorm is the price; however, the quality of its dishes deserves a special mention too. You can try delicious grilled fish or meat at affordable prices.

Where: Calle Esperanto, 16, 03503 Benidorm
Tel: (+34) 965 861 245

”Callejón de las tapas”: tapas crawl in Benidorm

In Benidorm, there is an area that begins at Plaza de la Constitución and that runs along Santo Domingo Street which is full of bars where you can enjoy some good tapas. Almost all pubs and bars have a Basque character, although there is a trend that tapas from other Spanish regions are being introduced little by little.

Casa Toni Restaurant

Casa Toni restaurant is located in eastern Benidorm. It is one of the most traditional restaurants among the locals. They offer a wide variety of Mediterranean dishes.

Where: Avenida Cuenca, 27, 03500 Benidorm
Tel: (+34) 966 801 232

Lolo Restaurant

This restaurant offers local cuisine from Alcoy and is located in a refurbished old farm house. They use top quality products and the place has wonderful views over Alcoy city.

Where: Alcoy – Benilloba Road, Camino Font de la Salut, 03800 Alcoy
Tel: (+34) 965 547 373

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Out shopping

Rambla de Méndez Núñez, Alicante

This is the ultimate shopping area in Alicante. Here you can find all kinds of shops and the environment out in the streets is great. After shopping, you can take a walk along the maritime promenade, which is precisely where the street ends.

Alicante Central Area

Most downtown streets in Alicante are pedestrian access only, which makes this area an ideal place to go walking and stopping in stores that appeal to you.

Central Market in Alicante

This is a very colourful market in which there are plenty of stalls that mainly sell food products and typical local products. The building, built in 1921, has some modernist touches.

Where: Avenida Alfonso X el Sabio, 03004 Alicante

Vistahermosa Leisure and Shopping Centre

As found in almost every Spanish city, Alicante has a retail and leisure shopping centre that offers many services. One of its main attractions is that it is a kind of mini-city where you can go strolling around the streets and go window-shopping, or stop off for a drink in one of the cafes whilst you relax under the sun.
Where: Avenida Antonio Ramos Carratalá, 56, 03015, Alicante
Tel: (+34) 965 261 589

“Palacio de las Galletas” in Elche (Cookies Palace)

The Cookies Palace is one of the most typical establishments of Elche. If you’re from out of town then don’t miss out on trying their homemade cookies.
Where: Calle Fernanda Santamaria, 8, 03204 Elche
Tel: (+34) 965 437 621

Markets in the heart of Benidorm

Every Wednesday and Sunday the centre of the city is full of many market stalls where you can find all kinds of items.

Craft shows

If you are lucky enough to get to Benidorm from the 15th of June to the 15th of September, you can enjoy the handicraft displays in Plaza de la Señoría. Here you can buy traditional handicraft items made of clay, leather and glass, among others.

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Nightlife

Port area, Alicante

The port area is where the buzzing nightlife takes place in Alicante. There are plenty of pubs and nightclubs that stay open until half past six in the morning.

Old quarter, Alicante

The old quarter is one of the liveliest areas in Alicante given the wide variety of establishments that are found on its streets, which are mainly pedestrian access only. There are numerous bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

“Ruta de la Madera”, Alicante

The “Ruta de la Madera” (Route of Wood) in Alicante is indeed an area full of pubs and bars where the music offer is highly diverse: pop, rock and soul music, among others. It is the perfect place to jump from one pub to another until finding the place you like.

“La Zapatillera” neighbourhood, Elche

The “La Zapatillera” neighbourhood is full of bars that are perfect for chatting with friends and have some tapas.

El Acertijo Pub, Alcoy

El Acertijo is the perfect choice if you want to start the evening chatting with friends and slowly warm up, because when you leave this one just a few meters away there are more pubs to choose between.

Where: Calle Alfonso Magnánimo 12, 03802 Alcoy

Beach area, Benidorm

Close to the beach in Benidorm, there are great pubs and clubs. Here you can meet people of all nationalities and enjoy the night until five o’clock in the morning.

Benidorm Palace Show

Don’t miss out on seeing one of the most popular dinner-shows in Benidorm. You can enjoy a wonderful dinner whilst watching a comprehensive show that includes boleros, Spanish folk tunes like the pasodoble, 80′s disco music, flamenco music and much more. A team of over a hundred people allows the Benidorm Palace to open its doors to magic, performing arts and entertainment every night. For more than “five thousand and one nights” this show has been running. The show is designed to entertain the entire family (there is even a special menu for children).

Where: Avenida Severo Ochoa, 13, 03503 Benidorm
Tel: (+34) 965 851 660
Further information: www.benidorm-palace.com
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Events

Benidorm “Fallas”

The “Fallas” are held every year in Benidorm from the 16th to the 19th of March, and even though they are more modest than the Valencian Fallas, it’s worth a visit. There are three committees from three districts of the city that exhibit their respective “fallas” (which are a set of large wooden and cardboard figures that are ironic caricatures based on people or current events). There are also various shows and parades, and the festival concludes with the popular “cremà” (the fallas’ bonfire).
When: March 16 – March 19, 2011

Palm Sunday in Elche

Palm Sunday is held the Sunday before Easter and in the year 1997 this celebration was declared as an International Tourist Asset in Elche. The most attractive aspect of this day is the Procession of the Palms, where you can see thousands of white palms from the Elche palm groves.

When: April 17, 2011 (Sunday before Easter)

Moors and Christians Festival in Alcoy

Every year in Alcoy, the 23rd of April is the day when the victory of the Christians on the Moorish troops of Al–Azraq in 1276 is commemorated. This celebration has been declared as an International Tourist Asset and literally the whole population in town participates in the representation of this historic moment. The costumes, music and colourful atmosphere are outstanding, together with the recreation of the battle.  It is worth visiting at least once in your life.

When: April 23, 2011

San Roque celebrations, Alicante

The San Roque neighbourhood celebrations in Alicante are one of the most appreciated summer events in Alicante.  They take place in mid-August and the big day is on the 16th, which is devoted to the Patron Saint. In 2004, these celebrations were declared as a Traditional Festival; they include several activities: paella contest, music and street dance, fireworks, kids’ activities, etc.

When: August 16
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Tourist Information Offices

Get further information from the tourist offices in Berlin.

Tourist Information Center Calpe
Where: Plaza del Mosquit s/n. , Calpe
Tel: (+34) 96 583 85 32
Fax: (+34) 96 583 8531
Email: calpecentro@touristinfo.net

Denia Tourism Office
Where : Plaza Oculista Buigues, 9, Dénia
Tel: (+34) 96 642 23 67

Tourist Information Center Benidorm
Where : Avda. Martínez Alejos, 16, Benidorm

Tourist Office of Alicante-Centro
Where?: Calle Portugal, 17, 03003, Alicante
Tel: (+34) 96 592 98 02
Fax: (+34) 96 592 01 12
E-mail: alicantecentro@touristinfo.net

Spanish Facts

Language: Spanish | Money: Euro | Electricity: 230 volts at 50Hz | Time: GMT -1 | Country code: +34 Documentation: Passport or valid identity card required from EU residents. For citizens of other countries, a visa (exception: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zeland, Panama, Paraguay, Korea, San Marino, Vatican City, Singapur, Uruguay and Venezuela. The maximum time to stay as a tourist is 90 days