subject: Alicante In Spain [print this page] Spain is a country known for its beautiful culture, people, traditions, festivals and scenery. It is a country with a long history of wars and strife that ravaged the country for many decades. Many invaders came and ruled here, being routed out by the next invaders; all of them left their indelible marks on the country that are still visible today. Each province, city and village in Spain bears traces of a rich history and a present that is in harmony with that violent past. One of the best known provinces of the country is Alicante. It is a province that contains the famous Costa Blanca with its beautiful beaches and grand hotels.
The province has been distributed into 141 municipalities. It is the only province with a large number of foreign residents that increases with the arrival of tourists. Some of the cities boast of 50 percent and above foreign population like Torrevieja, Algorfa, Calpe and Javea. Being ideally located in the east, Alicante faces the Mediterranean Sea and attracts thousands each year. The Alicante-Elche metropolitan is one of the top ten areas in Spain. Additionally, it is the only province with three metropolitan areas.
Features like festivals, traditions, food and clothes are very important for the people of the region. Some of these are common in all the cities and town; however, some of them are different and vary according to the city they are being celebrated in. An example of this is the Moors and Christians battle that is enacted all over the province. Every citizen takes part in the festivities with the same excitement and fervor. On the other hand, some festivals are celebrated in each city and town according to local traditions. The food, clothes, wine and historical monuments are some of these elements.
Spain is a country that has deep roots in religion. Therefore, most of its traditions and festivals are usually focused on the church. Every town and city has its own patron saint who is honored through prayers, festivals and other ways. Although the celebration of the Moors and Christians is the same in every city, most towns usually dedicate the last day to the patron saint.
The Costa Blanca, named thus for its white beaches, is one of the most favorite tourist spots in the region. Drawing millions of travelers every year, the Costa Blanca is well equipped to handle and cater to its large number of visitors. The Costa Blanca stretches across the whole bank of Alicante that faces the sea. Beginning from the north, high up in the mountains, it includes beautifully sheltered towns like Denia and Javea. Further south, and in the plains, are cities like Torrevieja that are excellent tourist resorts. The Costa Blanca has everything that typically characterizes a holiday spot including modern hotels, beach facilities, transport, leisure activities and excellent food.
Many of the inland cities and towns of Alicante are also quite popular and contribute to the growth of the tourism industry. Cities like Elche with its beautiful palm groves attract visitors to explore the wonders of this historic marvel. In addition, most of these towns have wonderfully preserved historical monuments and museums that present a timeline of the regions rich past.
