Province of Alicante, Mediterranean province in eastern Spain
The Province of Alicante is an administrative unit in eastern Spain within the Valencian Community, stretching from mountainous areas in the north to the Mediterranean coastline in the south. The territory includes smaller villages on hillsides, agricultural valleys inland, and resort towns along the shoreline.
Muslim rulers controlled this area for several centuries until Christian armies gradually conquered it during the 13th century. The final incorporation into the Kingdom of Valencia occurred in 1247, marking the beginning of a new political order.
The name Alicante comes from the Moorish term Al-Laqant and reflects centuries of Islamic presence in the region. Many coastal towns today still display traditional whitewashed houses with flat roofs, while mountain villages in the interior preserve their medieval alleyways and stone buildings.
Travelers reach the area through motorways from Valencia to the north and Murcia to the south, as well as through Alicante-Elche International Airport. High-speed trains connect larger cities within the province to Madrid and Barcelona.
Elche and its surroundings form one of the most important pomegranate growing areas in Europe, supplying a large portion of the Spanish harvest. The fruit grows in the irrigated plains of Vega Baja, where warm climate and fertile soils create favorable conditions.
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