Ferries, cruise ships and yachts access Alicante's busy harbour and attractive marina.

A large plaza with a fairground and numerous kiosks connects the marina and the adjoining Postiquet Beach.

      

The palm-lined Explanada de España follows the seafront into the old town. It is made of 6.5 million marble tiles that form a wavy pattern.

     

Mount Benacantil rises above the city, upon which sits the Santa Barbara Castle, a fortress with Arab origins.
 

The battlements of Santa Barbara Castile provide a panoramic view of Alicante, the Mediterranean, and the surrounding mountains.

The views take in the urban area of 330,000 people, and feature the sights of apartment blocks, the church domes, and the bullfighting ring.

The Casco Antiguo - Santa Cruz Barrio is an area of winding lanes lined with white-washed buildings and former palaces.

The oldest church in Alicante, the Basilica of Santa Maria with its baroque style facade is juxtaposed with the adjacent Museum of Modern Art.

        Architectural details reflect different eras of design from gothic to baroque, from neoclassical to Art Nouveau.

The Manolo Valdes Mariposa statue on Explanade marks the intersection with the grid of downtown streets.

Alicante's central core has tree-lined streets, attractive apartments and high-end shops and restaurants.

We had visited this area years before when we drove the 200 kilometer Costa Blanca coastline viewing charming villages and beach communities.
 

Torrevieja is typical of the area, where the traditional fishing and salt-mining community has been transformed for tourism with vacation properties lining the beach-front promenade.

About 70 kilometers away lies Murcia, known for its blend of architectural styles and its artistic gardens.

Shops' displays of gelato and macarons are also very artistically presented.