Alicante, Port city in Valencia region, Spain
Alicante is a coastal city on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, stretching from Mount Benacantil to several sandy beaches along its shoreline. The city sits within the autonomous community of Valencia and includes a large port, a historic old quarter and modern residential districts along the coast.
The Romans founded the settlement of Lucentum in 231 BC, which later grew under Moorish rule until King Alfonso X captured it for Castile in 1247. The Santa Barbara fortress on the mountain was expanded during the Moorish period and later enlarged under Christian rule.
During June, the Fogueres Festival transforms the city with large artistic monuments, parades and fireworks over the beach each night. The Explanada de España promenade fills with families in the evening, who walk under tiled palm trees and stop at street cafés.
The C6 bus connects the airport to the city center every twenty minutes, while tram lines link the main beaches and surrounding towns. The old quarter is walkable, with steep sections leading up to the castle and flat promenades running along the coast.
Santa Barbara Castle sits 166 meters (545 feet) above sea level on Mount Benacantil, with an elevator carved inside the mountain providing access from the beach. The profile of the mountain resembles a human face when viewed from the city, known locally as the Moor's face.
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