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Santa Bárbara Castle along the crest of Monte Benacantil above Alicante's old quarter, Postiguet beach and the bay
City

Alicante · L'Alacantí

Alicante

A Mediterranean port city gathered below the fortress on Monte Benacantil, where the old quarters, Explanada, city beach and working harbour meet.

Castle, port and island

A city looking out from Benacantil

Alicante's centre is easy to read from the water: the port and Explanada at sea level, the old quarters on the lower slopes and Santa Bárbara Castle stretched across the rock above them.

This compact relationship between castle, city and sea explains Alicante more clearly than its administrative boundary: a provincial capital, university city and transport hub as well as a place visited for its waterfront.

Fast facts

INE padrón, 1 Jan 2025

Population
366,221
Change since 2015
+11%

328,648 in 2015

Read Alicante

One reviewed city story

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