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FIESTAS Porrat de San Antón (St Anthony’s Market) Traditional fair with street stalls selling typical products such as dried fruits and nuts, sugared fruits, quince jelly and turrón de novia (bride’s nougat). Animal show and traditional blessing of the animals in the bullring. This feast is held on St Anthony’s Day, 17 January, in the quarter of Alicante named after the saint. Carnival Even the street benches are especially decorated for the Alicante Carnival. On Saturday, called Sábado Ramblero, there are parades down Rambla Avenue featuring carnival costumes, ending with a festivity called the “Funeral Wake and Burial of the Sardine”. Held on the weekend and days leading up to Ash Wednesday. Semana Santa (Holy Week) From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday a total of 27 brotherhoods take part in processions carrying floats or effigies called pasos, some of which are authentic masterworks by famous artists such as Salzillo, Bussi, Avalos or Castillo Lastrucci. Of note among the processions are that of the Holy Cross because it goes up the steep streets in the old quarter, the Procession of Silence, and the “Two Encounters” between Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The Santa Cena (Holy Supper) float is the largest in Spain and is carried by 208 porters. This is a movable feast falling in either March or April. The Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage (Santa Faz) This is a very popular pilgrimage, considered to be the second most important in Spain after the Andalusian Rocío, during which in one single day some 200,000 people holding pilgrim’s canes and wearing typical orchard-workers blousons walk to the monastery of the Santa Faz to worship at the shrine. They have picnic lunches, and an arts and crafts market and fair are held. Thursday following Easter week continuing to the next weekend. Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses) The Santa Cruz quarter of town dresses up for May with sweet-smelling crosses made of flowers lining its streets. The finest win awards, and dances and children’s games are staged. Held from 1 to 3 May. Hogueras de San Juan (St John’s Bonfires) This is the most outstanding festivity held in Alicante, declared to be of International Tourist Interest. It is based on the ancient custom of burning useless objects to celebrate the summer solstice, connecting with the feast day of St John the Baptist. It was first held in 1928, with lots of colour, gunpowder and bonfires. Of note are the Flower Offerings to Our Lady of Remedy (22 June), the International Folklore Parade (23 June) and the mascletás or fireworks competitions (20-24 June). There are also processions with marching bands, outdoor dances and sports competitions. The feast coincides with a bullfighting festival bringing in leading matadors, on foot and on horseback. At midnight on St John’s Night (from 24 to 25 June) a huge fireworks display is set off from the top of Mount Benacantil, and all the bonfires, and monumental floats made in papier-mâché and wood are burnt to ashes. The holidays continue until 29 June, St Peter’s Day. During the second half, a Medieval market is held in the old quarter of town, and from 25 to 29 June there is a fireworks competition, with displays being set off from Postiguet Beach. Moors and Christians This age-old festivity, commemorating former Christian battles for the reconquest of these lands from the Moors, is held in various quarters of Alicante and all include entry processions, called entradas – with groups from each side parading into the town in filaes all arrayed in splendid costume. They take place in Villafranqueza (March), San Blas (June) and in the quarters of Altozano and José Antonio in August. Virgen del Carmen (The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt Carmel) This maritime city decorates its fishing boats and other vessels on the day sailors venerate their patroness. The biggest celebration, however, is held on the island of Tabarca, where an image of the Virgin is carried on a boat in a sailor’s procession. Held on 16 July. Virgen del Remedio (Our Lady of Remedy) This is a feast to honour the patron saint and perpetual mayoress of the city. Two days before the feast day (3 August) an ancient choral concert is held called the Alborada On 5 August a procession is held with the image of the Virgin. The Port Summer Festival is also held at this time in the Patron Saint’s honour. Virgen del Socorro (Our Lady of Succour) The Raval quarter, once populated with fishermen, organises a feast in honour of its patron saint, the virgin after whom the chapel and the main street, overlooking Postiguet Beach, were named. The festivity includes cooking contests, a procession, games, dances, etc. From 5 to 8 September. 37
38 MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE Fish and seafood from the bay, with fresh vegetables and fresh fruit from nearby orchards, and a wide selection of rice dishes, accompanied by prestigious wines from the region, form the basis of a healthy and natural gastronomic tradition in this area. Standing out among the many rice dishes prepared here (over 300) are the specialities known as arroz a la alicantina (combining meat, fish and shellfish), arroz a banda (cooked in fish broth and served straight, without fish) caldero (a rice stew, with the fish served first) and olleta (with vegetables and sausages). Typical appetizers include Alicante’s well-known salted fish (salazones), such as mojama, bonito and marrajo, and roe (hueva) as well as the small, pizza-like cocas with sardines or tunny (tonyina) on top, or the sweet coca variety much like sponge cake and known as coca boba. Tapas in Alicante include montaditos, or little slices of bread with different toppings. Popular desserts include the nougat-like turrón made in nearby Jijona (soft) or in Alicante (hard), accompanied by the local Fondillón dessert wine, an enological treasure first made in the 16th century according to written records. CRAFTS AND SHOPPING Although there are lots of places to go shopping while on a visit to Alicante – department stores, shopping centres, designer shops, traditional retailers and open-air markets (Thursdays and Saturdays along Paseo Campoamor and a daily crafts market along Paseo de la Explanada), the best idea is to always look for typical, locally-made products. If you want to purchase some typical food products, try the canned vegetables from the Vega Baja, stuffed olives from Alcoy, turrón from Jijona, chocolate from La Vila Joiosa, dates from Elx and raisins from Dénia. There are wines from the Alicante denomination of origin (D.O.), anisettes from Monforte and moscatel wines from Teulada or Jalón. There is an important leather goods tradition here, including shoes, handbags, clothing and accessories from the Medio and Alto Vinalopó districts, plus textiles from Alcoy and rugs from Crevillente. For the delight of children, toys are made in the nearby town of Ibi, and dolls are produced in Onil. For adults, there are ceramic products from Biar and Agost and decorative objects in rushwork and cane from Gata de Gorgos. 39
Page 1 and 2: Alicante step by step
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Introduction Monuments and
Page 5 and 6: 6 MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS In Alicante
Page 7 and 8: MUSEUMS MARQ Museo Arqueológico Pr
Page 9 and 10: Along the narrow street called Call
Page 11 and 12: PARKS, PROMENADES AND PLAZAS Alican
Page 13 and 14: BEACHES AND COVES From north to sou
Page 15 and 16: The Harbour What would this city be
Page 17 and 18: BUSINESS CITY Thanks to the dynamic
Page 19: 34 NIGHTLIFE There are many areas i
Page 23 and 24: H 42 ACCOMMODATION As a tourist cit
Page 25: www.comunitat-valenciana.com Estaci

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