The island of Tabarca is one of the emblems not only of Alicante, but of the Mediterranean. A small massif copado by a charming population that looks out over the sea a few kilometers from the coast of Alicante. A place known for its beaches, its tourism, its gastronomy and some beautiful corners. One of the most characteristic, without a doubt, is the Puerta de San Rafael, known on the island as Puerta de Levante.
The Calahorra Tower is an Almohad tower from the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th. It is a rectangular construction, of Arab origin, which defended the most important entrance of the city, the one that communicated with Alicante.
Located in the square of Ruperto Chapí, the Principal Theater of Alicante is the theater of reference in the city. It was inaugurated in 1847 with the name of New Theater. The building is neoclassical and its architect was Emilio Jover Perrón, from Alicante. The interior, made according to the Italian typology of the time, is divided into three clearly differentiated areas: the vestibule, the horseshoe-shaped cave and the stage. It welcomes, in addition to plays, other shows such as concerts, dance, opera, performances and humorous monologues, etc.
This castle was built on mount Tossal during the War of Independence against the French in 1813, according to the project of the military engineer Pablo Ordobas, at that time Commander of the Plaza de Alicante, it was made with the purpose of being a prison and to reinforce the defense possibilities of Santa Bárbara Castle. It never came into service, since there was finally no French occupation in Alicante, however, it was close because the French general Louis-Pierre Montbrun bombed the city on January 16, 1812 from the area of Altozano (near the Church of Los Angeles). Apparently, it was a preview of the real attack he intended to take over the city, which did not occur because the general and his troops that same day went to France, recalled for the invasion of Russia. It was a rather sloppy work that was built quickly and badly, because after a short time it began to show structure flaws, in addition to being militarily useless, while costly. Next to the access to the castle is the Monument to the "Heroes Alicantinos de la Independencia".
The Statue of Icarus is located in the Port of Alicante, on a pedestal in front of the Stairs of the Queen's dock. It is a curious bronze sculpture of Esperança D'Ors, entitled "The return of Icarus with its surf wing". It represents the return of the young Icarus from the waters accompanied by a surfboard, which gives a modern touch to the myth of this character.
The chimneys of Benalúa are a patrimony protected by the General Direction of Patrimony of the Generalitat Valenciana (declared Asset of Cultural Interest). They were erected in the Gran Vía of Professor Soler, between the prolongation of Alberola and Guardiola Architect streets, in 1923, and were the work of Engineer Francisco Fajardo Guardiola, who took part in many projects in the city of Alicante, such as the Mercado Central de Abastos (Central Market of Supplies). They belonged to the ceramic industry of Francisco Ramón Borja, ceramics entrepreneur in Alicante, owner of Tejas-Borja, also with two spectacular chimneys, at the exit of the Carretera de Madrid.
Complex sculptural set that is architecturally resolved with a pedestal and quadrangular central pillar that, in the form of a needle, is crowned with an exempt sculpture, while the square sides of the prism are occupied with two sculptures of round shape and two bas-reliefs. The monument is dedicated to José de Canalejas, who is shown in the main bronze figure at whose feet rests a recumbent lion on a shield, circular, of four barracks with the emblems of León, Castilla, Aragón and Navarra, in the center the flowers of lys. On the other hand, the ensemble is complemented by the round-shaped sculptural group "Gratitude" also in bronze. Two bas-reliefs are placed on the remaining sides, one of them is titled "Sanitation" where a woman and two children are represented symbolizing the improvements of the city. The other relief is titled "Commerce" and there are allegorical signs of said commercial activity, as well as a description of the works carried out to improve the Alicante port. The whole composition is topped by a hunched man, the figure of a worker sitting on an anthropomorphic head that is supported at four angles by different female human figures with garlands.
Monument of the town of Alicante to the Spanish Constitution made in 1986 by the Spanish artist Arcadio Blasco, artist and ceramist (1928-2013) who has been a great reference in contemporary ceramics. The urban sculptural ensembles have occupied a good part of his work.
This monument is dedicated to freedom of expression, with the figure of two iron arms that want to touch each other in the air, but that are separated by a few centimeters at the top. It has been located on the roundabout on Calle Colombia since 1998, after being moved from Avenida de la Estación. Since 1985 it was placed in its first location and now it reminds us from the Gran Vía, with its five arms, the 5 articles that mention the freedom of expression in the Spanish Consitution.
Download your Alicante guide!