Alicante City Centre (Centro)

- La Explanada, Plaza de los Luceros, Plaza Puerta del Mar, Mercado Central, Parque de Canalejas, Playa de Postiguet, Alicante Terminal/Estación de FFCC, Avenida Alfonso X


Alicante has a nice city centre (Centro in Spanish). It is compact, and thus very walkable. Most parts of it is very modern, but you can also find some beautiful old buildings here and there, and in the East part there is a separate Old Town (El Barrio), where you find the Town Hall and the cathedral. The city center is situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the 166m high Mount Becantil. At the harbour you find Paseo Explanada de España (or simply just La Explanada), a fashionable palm promenade that goes along the coastline in the city centre of Alicante, with curve shaped tile patterns on the ground. It is filled with restaurants and market stalls. Some of the largest casinos and hotels are also in the area. La Explanada ends at Plaza Plaza Puerta del Mar in the East end. There you find the beautiful Edificio Casa Carbonell, a white grandiose residential building from 1925, designed by the Alicante architect Juan Vidal Ramos. In the West end of La Explanada you find Placa de las Canalejas, with the Canalejas Monument and Parque de Canalejas - a small, narrow park that serves as an extention of La Explanada, just next to the sea, with strange wide trees and beautiful sculptures, all illuminated in different colours at night. In the harbour, Puerta del Mar, you find a marina with yachts and other private ships, the Melia Hotel, Casino Mediterraneo, several open air restaurants and the museum ship Santisima Trinidad. Santisima Trinidad is a replica of a historic ship situated in the port of central Alicante, that can be visited for a small entrance fee that includes a drink! The original ship was launched from Havana, Cuba. It was the flagship of the Spanish fleet during the war against Great Britain.

Plaza de los Luceros is a circular central square in the heart of the city, with a beautiful sculpture and fountain (La Fuenta de Levante. Pl. Luceros is situated between Santa Barbara Castle and the modern central station, Alacant Terminal (Estación de FFCC), along two busy boulevards. The other boulevard, that changes name three times, leads to the sea and La Explanada, and is just like the latter named filled with palms, benches and beautiful tiles on the ground. Avenida Alfonso X El Sabio goes in one direction from Plaza de los Luceros, and passes Mercado Central (Central Market), an impressive 2-storey art deco building. Churches, administrative buildings, numerous nice restaurnants, interesting stores and a large branch of the department store chain El Corte Inglés at the nice square Placa de Calvo Sotelo can all be found along the avenues. Another branch of El Corte Inglés can be found at Placa de Estrella only a few blocks away. The city center is partly hilly, but mostly the old Eastermost part, El Barrio that borders the Mount Becantil and Santa Barbara Castle.

Also worth to mention is the narrow lane Carrer San Francisco with it's many stranges swamp sculptures that are big as trees, the square Placa del Muntanyeta with it's illuminated fountains, open air restaurants and Teatro Principal, a beautiful theater in neo-classical style that can be found at the square just like the Parraquia Nuestra Senora de Gracia church. At Plaza Gabriel Miró you near La Explanada you find even more illuminated trees, fountains and nice open air restaurants. These sights can only be found in the Alicante by night and sunset section.

Click here for the Old Town (El Barrio). Click and here for hotel reviews in the city center. Click here for Alicante by night and sunset, that includes parts of the city center not shown on this page.

Explanada de España - this is the fashionable palm promenade the goes along the coastline in the city centre of Alicante, with curve shaped tile patterns. Filled with restaurants and market stalls. Explanada de España - this is the fashionable palm promenade the goes along the coastline in the city centre of Alicante, with curve shaped tile patterns. Filled with restaurants and market stalls. Explanada de España 03 - looking towards Paseo de Tomas y Valiente Explanada de España 04 Explanada de España 05 - this is the fashionable palm promenade the goes along the coastline in the city centre of Alicante, with curve shaped tile patterns. Filled with restaurants and market stalls. Explanada de España 06 Explanada de España 07 - Real Liceo Casino de Alicante Explanada de España 08 Alicante City Centre 030 - Plaza de las Canalejas Alicante City Centre 032 - Canalejas Monument, Plaza de las Canalejas Alicante City Centre 031 - Canalejas Monument, Plaza de las Canalejas Explanada de España 09 Explanada de España 10 Explanada de España 11 Explanada de España 12 Plaza de las Canalejas and Parque de Canalejas Parque de Canalejas - a small, narrow park at the extantion of La Explanada, just next to the sea, with strange trees and beautiful sculptures. Parque de Canalejas 03 Parque de Canalejas 04 Parque de Canalejas 05 Parque de Canalejas 06 - incredible tree! Parque de Canalejas 07 Parque de Canalejas 08 Parque de Canalejas 09 Parque de Canalejas 10 - open air gym Parque de Canalejas 11 Alicante City Centre 001 Alicante City Centre 003 Alicante City Centre 002 - Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. Alicante City Centre 004 - Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. Tryp Gran Sol Hotel 13 Alicante City Centre 006 - view from Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. Alicante City Centre 007 - view from Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. Alicante City Centre 008 - view from Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. To the right is the 35-storey Estudiotel, the 2nd hotel we used, and Alicante's tallest building. Alicante City Centre 166 - view from the breakfast room at Tryp Gran Sol Estudiotel Alicante - the 30-storey, 2 star hotel we stayed at the last night after returning from Valencia. 2nd tallest building in Alicante. Alicante City Centre 010 - Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante City Centre 011 - Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante City Centre 012 - Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante City Centre 013 - Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante City Centre 014 - Rambla de Mendez Nunez Alicante City Centre 015 Alicante City Centre 016 - Tryp Gran Sol, our 4-star hotel, is one of the tallest buildings in Alicante. Alicante City Centre 019 Alicante City Centre 042 towards Estudiotel Alicante, our 35-storey second hotel, , Alicante's tallest building. Alicante City Centre 044 Alicante City Centre 047 Alicante City Centre 048 Alicante City Centre 049 Alicante City Centre 050 - Tryp and Santa Barbara Alicante City Centre 051 Alicante City Centre 052 - Paseo de Tomas y Valiente, the central harbour promenade Alicante City Centre 053 - Paseo de Tomas y Valiente, the central harbour promenade Alicante City Centre 054 - Marina de Alicante Alicante City Centre 055 Alicante City Centre 056 - Marina de Alicante Alicante City Centre 057 - amusement for the small, by the sea. Alicante City Centre 058 - Marina de Alicante Alicante City Centre 059 - Santa Barbara Castle and Tryp Gran Sol. Alicante City Centre 060  - Plaza Puerta del Mar Alicante City Centre 061 - Marina de Alicante Alicante City Centre 062 - Along La Explanada Alicante City Centre 063  - Along La Explanada Alicante City Centre 066 - La Explanada Alicante City Centre 067 - La Explanada Alicante City Centre 064 - Edificio Casa Carbonell, a grandiose residential building from 1925, designed by the Alicante architect Juan Vidal Ramos. Alicante City Centre 068 - Plaza Puerta del Mar Alicante City Centre 069 -  Plaza Puerta del Mar towards Hotel Melia Alicante City Centre 071 Alicante City Centre 072 Alicante City Centre 074 Alicante City Centre 076 Alicante City Centre 077 - Postiguet Beach and Avenida Juan Bautista Lafora Alicante City Centre 078 - small police office at Postiguet Beach Alicante City Centre 079 Alicante City Centre 080 - elevator down to the avenue and beach Alicante City Centre 081 - looking towards Playa de San Juan Alicante City Centre 082 - futuristic walk bridge down to Postiguet Beach Alicante City Centre 083 Alicante City Centre 084 - looking towards Playa de San Juan Alicante City Centre 085 - looking towards Playa de San Juan Alicante City Centre 086 - looking towards Playa de San Juan, Avenida Juan Batista Lafora. Alicante City Centre 087 - modern apartment buildings near Santa Barbara Castle. Alicante City Centre 088 - Postiguet Beach towards Melia Hotel Alicante Alicante City Centre 089 - Playa Postiguet Alicante City Centre 090 Alicante City Centre 091 Alicante City Centre 092 Alicante City Centre 093 Alicante City Centre 094 - Avda. Juan Batista Lafora towards the East Alicante City Centre 095 Alicante City Centre 096 - Playa Postiguet, the most central beach Alicante City Centre 097  - Playa Postiguet, the most central beach Alicante City Centre 098 - Playa Postiguet, looking towards Tryp Gran Sol, our hotel. Alicante City Centre 099  - Playa Postiguet and Santa Barbara Castle Alicante City Centre 100 - Playa Postiguet Alicante City Centre 101 - Playa Postiguet Alicante City Centre 102 - Playa Postiguet Alicante City Centre 103  - Plaza Puerta del Mar Alicante City Centre 104 - Edificio Casa Carbonell and Tryp Gran Sol seen from  - Plaza Puerta del Mar. Alicante City Centre 105 -  Edificio Casa Carbonell, a grandiose residential building from 1925. Alicante City Centre 106 Alicante City Centre 107 - Plaza Puerta del Mar Alicante City Centre 108  - Muelle Levante street. Alicante City Centre 109  - Plaza Puerta del Mar Alicante City Centre 111 - Melia Alicante Hotel, 4 star hotel by the sea at Muelle Levante. Alicante City Centre 112 Alicante City Centre 113 Alicante City Centre 114 - historic ship Santisima Trinidad and Tryp Gran Sol. Alicante City Centre 115 Alicante City Centre 135 - skyline and marina Alicante City Centre 141 - marina Alicante City Centre 142 - Avenida Dr Gadea is a nice palm boulevard that goes to the North from the sea. Alicante City Centre 144 - Plaza de los Luceros, the  circular central square in the city, with a beautiful sculpture and fountain (La Fuenta de Levante). Alicante City Centre 143 - Plaza de los Luceros, inaugurated 1915. Alicante City Centre 145 - Avda General Marva towards Plaza de los Luceros Alicante City Centre 146 - Instituo de Enseñanza Media (Secondary School of Media) Alicante City Centre 147 - Avda General Marva Alicante City Centre 148 Plaza de los Luceros Alicante City Centre 149 - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio Alicante City Centre 150  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio Alicante City Centre 151  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio Alicante City Centre 152  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio towards Santa Barbara Castle Alicante City Centre 153  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio Alicante City Centre 154  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio Alicante City Centre 155 - Avenida Alfonso. Alicante City Centre 159 - Avenida Alfonso. Alicante City Centre 156 - Mercado Central (Central Market), an impressive 2-storey art deco building on Avenida Alfonso. Alicante City Centre 157 - Mercado Central (Central Market) Alicante City Centre 158 - Mercado Central (Central Market) Alicante City Centre 160 - Mercado Central (Central Market), an impressive 2-storey art deco building on Avenida Alfonso. Alicante City Centre 161 - Mercado Central (Central Market) Alicante City Centre 162  - Avda Alfonso X El Sabio, trafficated by local red/white buses Alicante City Centre 163 Alicante City Centre 164 Alicante City Centre 167 - reaching Alicante Terminal by Renfe train from Valencia Alicante City Centre 168 - Central Station (Alacant Terminal) Alicante City Centre 169 - Central Station (Alacant Terminal) Alicante City Centre 170 - Avda. de la Estación towards Plaza de las Luceros Alicante City Centre 171 - one of several rock stores in central Alicante Alicante City Centre 172 - Diputación Provincial de Alicante (Provincial Palace of Alicante), a grande administrative building at Ave de la Estación Alicante City Centre 173 Santisima Trinidad old ship 01 -  replica of a historic ship situated in the port of central Alicante, that can be  visited for a small entrance fee that includes a drink! The original ship was launched from Havana, Cuba. Santisima Trinidad old ship 02 Santisima Trinidad old ship 03 Santisima Trinidad old ship 04 Santisima Trinidad old ship 05 Santisima Trinidad old ship 06 Santisima Trinidad old ship 07 Santisima Trinidad old ship 08 Santisima Trinidad old ship 09 Santisima Trinidad old ship 13 Santisima Trinidad old ship 14 Santisima Trinidad old ship 15 Santisima Trinidad old ship 17 Santisima Trinidad old ship 18 Santisima Trinidad old ship 19 Santisima Trinidad old ship 20 Santisima Trinidad and Casino Mediterraneo d'Alicante Santisima Trinidad old ship 22 Santisima Trinidad old ship 23 Alicante by night - Casino Mediterraneo d'Alicante