Basilica of Santa Maria of Alicante
The Basilica de Santa María, just a short 15-minute walk from the beach, is one of Alicante’s most significant landmarks. Due to its popularity with tourists, a small entrance fee is now required. Inside, the layout is designed for self-guided visits, with numbered stations and audio explanations available in three languages.
Built in the Valencian Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries on the site of a former mosque, the basilica is the oldest active church in Alicante. Its striking Baroque façade, spacious nave, and six chapels make it a highlight for anyone exploring the city.
Barri Vell Santa Creu — Old Town Quarter
No trip to Alicante would be complete without a stroll through El Barri Vell, the city’s charming Old Quarter. Its maze of narrow streets lies beneath the Santa Bàrbera Castle and is filled with taverns, small shops and local life.
Among its most notable landmarks is the San Nicolás Co-Cathedral, an example of 17th-century architecture, though its cloisters date back to the 15th century in Herrerian Renaissance style. Other highlights include the Town Hall, an elegant 18th-century Baroque building, the Santa María Basilica, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Casa de la Asegurada Museum.
Castell de Santa Bàrbera
A visit to the Santa Bárbera Castle is highly recommended. Located atop Mount Benacantil, at a height of 166 metres, it is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, with unbeatable views over the Bay of Alicante and on clear days you can see all the way to Tabarca Island.
Such is its relevance that during the 20th century it was declared a Monument of Historic and Artistic Importance and a Site of Cultural Interest. Here we can also find one of the most characteristic images of the city, a rock formation resembling a man’s profile on the southwestern slope, known as the Moor’s Face, which is best viewed from Postiguet Beach. The Museum of the city in Santa Bárbara's Castle 'MUSA', housed in the Castle itself, was included in its cultural offer and it explains in five theme rooms the history of the city of Alicante and their inhabitants.
To descend down from the Santa Bárbara Castle, take the route through Parque de La Ereta, along the mountainside. Its location and views transform it into a place of relaxation as well as a great meeting place. It also has a spectacular restaurant and, on the way down to the old town quarter, you can visit the picturesque, quintessentially Spanish Santa Cruz district. Another attractive option between the castle and the Santa Cruz district is walking along the remains of the walls that surrounded the Castle, which now end in the Santa Cruz district.
You can also access the castle via a lift built within the rock face opposite El Postiguet beach.
