Alicante

We visited Alicante in 2007 and again 2012. In 2007 Alicante was home to the Tall Ship Race, so I got some photos of the ships while they were in port. One of the most interesting spots we visited was the Museu de Fogueres. This museum has the best statues saved from the Festival of Saint Joan (Fiesta de Sant Joan). These statues are made from wood and paper mache and the winners are saved from the flame and placed in this museum. The rest are burned as part of the festival. On the hill overlooking the city is the Castle of Santa Barbara. Initial construction started in 1248, but like many castles there have been extensive remodeling over the next 700 years. It has been open to the public since 1963. The promenade in the city is a nice stroll with vendors, stores, cafes and restaurants if you are looking for souvenirs, food or a drink. The Town Hall is of note due to the statue by Salvador Dali in the main entryway. The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, with its plain white interior and beautiful altar has a small side chapel called “The chapel of Holy Communion” which is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of the Spanish Baroque style.