Alicante

From CruisersWiki

Alicante is a fairly large city, 319 380 inhabitants and the eight largest city in Spain, south of Valencia. It is a large harbor and it is dominated by a large Castilo, Castle. The waterfront is surrounded by beaches and within the town there is a delightful large esplanade, the Playa del Postiguet, with multicolored tiles is a wavy design shaded by palm and banana trees. Along the esplanade are many cafés and restaurants. Within the harbor there is a large, and very well run, marina. Along the marina are many new buildings with many upscale restaurants. The town has many churches and several museums.

The region of Alicante has been inhabited for over 700 years. The Greeks and the Phoenicians established trading post around 1000 BC. They introduced the alphabet and the pottery wheel to the native tribes. Akra Leuke (Ἄκρα Λευκὴ) was established by the Carthaginian general Hamilcar in the 6th century BC. This settlement evolved to Alicante. The Romans defeated the Carthaginians (Phoenician) in the Punic Wars and ruled the whole Iberian peninsula for over 700 years.

The Moors invaded the peninsula and ruled Southern and Eastern Spain until the 11th century AD. In 1246 Alicante was taken by the Castellan king Alfonso X, and the last Muslim rulers left Spain for North Africa in 1492. Alicante enjoyed a siglo de oro (golden age) during the 15th century, rising to become a major Mediterranean trading station exporting rice, wine, olive oil, oranges and wool. But between 1609 and 1614 King Felipe III expelled thousands of Arabs who had remained in Valencia after the reconquest. This act of intolerance cost the region dearly; with so many skilled artisans and agricultural laborers gone, the Christian feudal nobility found itself sliding into bankruptcy. Things got worse when in the early 16th century Alicante, along with the rest of Valencia, backed Carlos in the War of Spanish Succession. Felipe won, and he punished the whole region by withdrawing the semi-autonomous status it had enjoyed since the time of the reconquest. Alicante went into a long, slow decline, surviving through the 18th and 19th centuries by making shoes and growing oranges, and relieving its frustration with occasional attempts at rebellion.

By the early 20th century the whole of Spain was almost at the point of revolution. Amid growing civil unrest, after years of sponsoring a failed military dictatorship, King Alfonso XIII abdicated the throne, and in 1931 a Spanish Republic was declared. A left-wing coalition of communists and socialists narrowly won the subsequent elections. In 1936, General Francisco Franco led an uprising, supported by Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, to re-establish the authority of the Catholic church, the army and the aristocracy. After three years of bloody civil war, Franco's armies were victorious; Alicante was one of the last cities loyal to the government to be overcome. The next 20 years under Franco's police state were wretched ones for Alicante, with severe frosts in 1941 and 1946 adding to the problems of local orange farmers. Franco died at last in 1975, with his successor King Juan Carlos I guiding Spain towards democracy. Regional governments were given more power, and the cities of Valencia were permitted an autonomy they had not been allowed for four centuries.

Charts

BA

1700 Cartagena to Cabo de San Antonio including Isla Formentera

469 Puerto de Alicante

NIMA

52060 Cabo de Gala to Cabo de Palos and Cap Milonia to Cap Ivi

52082 Approaches to Alicante and Torrevieja

Weather

See Spain.

Passages

See Aegean to West Mediterranean Passages.

Islands

• Balearics

Navigation

The approaches to Alicante are straight forward.

Entrance

Alicante is a port of entry to Spain. For entering/exiting Spain check with Alicante Marina.

See also Procedures.

Communication

Also seeWorld Cruiser's Nets.

Berthing

Alicante Marina, located within the Commercial Harbor, is the only place to go as yachts are not allowed elsewhere.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Alicante Marina

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

There is one just N of the marina office.

Repairs/Yards

Some repairs are possible at the commercial harbor (opposite the marina).

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

The fuel dock, next to the marina reception, has working hours 0830 to 2000

Water

On the marina pontoons

Electricity

On the marina pontoons

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The Castilo Bárbara is a must. You get to it by walking to a underground passage located about 150 m along the waterfront N of the harbor. The passage is about 200 m long and leads to an elevator which takes you to the castle. In addition to the castle, there are several museums and churches in the old town worth a visit.

Alicante Harbor, near the marina

The Esplanade, near the marina

The Castilo

Grocery & Supply Stores

• There are many good stores in the town
• A new and convenient Carefour has opened on the Esplanada next to the port

Eateries

• There are many upscale restaurants next to the marina
• Good and unusual food in the Entertapas in town

Internet/WiFi

In Cafés.

Laundry

There is a laundromat next to the fuel dock. You need to purchase tokens from the marina office and then get an attendant to open the door for you. At this time, this laundromat is working at a minimum capacity due to broken machines. There is another laundromat located next to the Central Market opened from about 8AM to 10PM everyday. The laundromat is called 321 Wash and is located at Calle Poeta Quintana #8, 16K load capacity is at 4 Euros.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Transportation

There are daily flights to destinations within the EU as well as ferries to the Balearic islands.

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Alicante at the Wikipedia

References & Publications

See Spain.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Alicante and this page's details validated:

• October 2004 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis 14:48, 29 June 2008 (MDT)

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Istioploos