Alicante...
Capital of the province whose name it bears,
this modern European city with its wonderful climate has everything a holidaymaker or resident could possibly want.
Often described as a typically Mediterranean city, Alicante is a pleasure to visit, day or night. International
stores, large shopping centres, modern hotels, commerce and of course, the usual superb beaches Alicante is
everyone's favourite city and with good reason. Expatriates from surrounding areas regularly visit the city
whenever they have specific shopping needs. The city overlooks the sea and in winter it’s quite usual to find
people sat on many of its terraces relaxing in the sun or in summer, making use of the shade provided
by the many hundreds of palm trees which are everywhere.
Alicante dates back to the Carthaginians and is said to
have been founded by Hamicar. The Greeks called it Akra Leuka which means White Rock,
not because of the mountains
but the colour of the soil - something for gardeners to bear in mind! The Romans later changed its name to Lucentum - city of light and it became one of the most active ports of the time. Running the entire length
of the sea-front is the Explanada de Espana. Sand sculptures add
extra interest!
This is a promenade lined with palms and with a unique pavement which must rank as one of the largest mosaics anywhere. Right along the promenade are cafes, bars, and restaurants which unlike so many other Spanish towns, blend tastefully into the background scenery.
If you are a boat person, then Alicante will be of interest to you. It has a very large, well supported marina offering a full range of marine services. Many people enjoy an evening out at the marina, dining in one of the many excellent restaurants which overlook the moorings and simply watching the boats bobbing around.
When it comes to buying property in Alicante, there is considerable pressure on that which is available. For holidaymakers, being so close to the airport is an almost perfect location for a holiday home. Businessmen with a need to visit the UK or their home country are also aware of this point. Prices of property in this city are typical of that found in capitals and whilst nowhere near as expensive as Madrid or London, better prices can be found by living on the outskirts of the city or a few kilometers away where Alicante and all it offers is still available - at a better price.
Learn the Language...
Learning to speak Spanish will give you tremendous advantages...
It will also give you pride and confidence so even before you get here try to
learn the basics. There are several methods, some claim to be fast but
that all depends on you, not the course, so choose what's best for you.
Our useful links page carries a couple you might consider as a starting
point.
Spanish PDQ is from Linguaphone and is a fun, holiday-style course aimed at beginners wanting to
learn basic Spanish. It uses proven teaching methods and has a strong focus on
essential vocabulary, so you will quickly be able to handle a wide variety of
everyday situations. At less than £30 it's a bargain.
Learn to speak, read and write Spanish to an elementary level.
Learn 500 essential Spanish words and phrases.
Perfect your accent by listening to native Spanish speakers.
Focus on the vocabulary that you need.