Alicante Province

The province of Alicante possesses one of the most benign climates in Spain; it's is a great place to visit and live being one of the areas in which there is a huge concentration of businesses and activities set up to cater for the tourist industry.

Archaeology indicates that the Iberians were the oldest documented people living in the area that is now known as the province of Alicante. One of the most interesting sites is located in La Serreta (near Alcoi) and it is known for discovery of the longest inscriptions remaining in the undeciphered Iberian language.

Along the coast and contemporary to the Iberians, the seafaring Phoenicians (in Guardamar) and Greeks (along the coastal section to the north of the Alicante city) settled stable trading colonies from which they interacted with the other settlements.

After a brief period dominated by the Carthaginians, the Romans took over. Romanization in this part of Iberia was intense, the Via Augusta communicated this part of the Empire to the metropoli and many cities including Alicante thrived by the modern and powerful contact. The city once known as Ilici Augusta (now Elx) even reached the status of ‘colony’.

Following the crash of the Roman Empire and after a brief period of Vizigoth rule, the area was taken by Islamic armies and became a part of Al Andalus. The process of the ‘Reconquista’ started from the 13th century with the Castillian king Ferndinand III. His initial incursions were continued by Jaime I of Aragon, Alfonso X, The Wise, of Castilla and Jaime II of Aragon. The slow process of renewal continued until the Moors were driven from the land.

What today is known as the province of Alicante was initially split between the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon. Later the whole territory came under the control of the Kingdom of Valencia.

The coastline of Alicante is known as the Costa Blanca. It offers extensive golden beaches of sand for those who prefer to sunbath as well as rocky coves for those of a more adventurous nature and for those who enjoy scuba diving. There are long miles of dunes covered with pinewood forests as well as many small coves where it is possible to anchor small boats for that extra bit of isolation.

The province of Alicante offers many natural treasures worth visiting. One of the most beautiful is located between Alcoi and Ibi in the Sierra del Menejedor. This is the Carrascal de la Font Roja Natural Park, a parkland of enormous ecological importante. This and the other parks such as El Fondo Natural Park, Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja, Montgó, Penyal d’Ifac, Isla de Tabarca, Salinas de Santa Pola and Marjal de Pego-Oliva are open to all to visit.

Inland of the province of Alicante is the unmissable city of Elche with its beautiful palm trees, a feature that has resulted in the city being declared Patrimony of Humanity.

More information: http://www.alicantetotal.com/