Discount Hotels Alicante
Historical interest: Alicante
    
Alicante's turbulent history can be traced back more than 3,000 years. With
the arrival of the Moors, first settlements in the area were centred on the
slopes of Mount Benacantil, built under the protection of the castle Castillo
de Santa Barbara which combined the privileges of being close to the sea with
the protection of being high above the surrounding land.
Alfonso the Wise conquered the city in 1246 for the Castilian crown and Alicante
was soon incorporated into the Kingdom of Valencia. Alicante's City Charter
was granted 100 years later and as a natural port town it propitiated a growing
sea trade, attaining the rank of Spain's third largest trading port by the next
century.
However, due to its advantageous position on the coast Alicante also became
a portal through which many wars and conflicts were fought. In 1691, under the
reign of Charles II, the French Armada bombed the city for seven consecutive
days. Without so much as a breathing space it became involved in the War of
Spanish Succession (1701-14) and again suffered bombardment, this time by English
troops who were responsible for the destruction of Santa Bárbara. Less
than a century later the city also suffered under the War of Independence (1804-14),
known as the Peninsular War.
The 19th century was a peaceful time for Spain, and Alicante started to expand
considerably and recover from its battles. The railway arrived in 1858, its
linkage to the centre of the peninsula guaranteeing Alicante a leading role
in trade. Today Alicante is the second largest city in the Province of Valencia
and a booming commercial hotpot.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Hotel Mediterranea Plaza | | Hotel Abba Eurhotel | | Tryp Gran Sol | | Tryp Ciudad de Alicante | | NH Cristal | | Hotel Maya | | Express by Holiday Inn | | Holiday Inn Alicante - Playa San Juan | | Hotel Sidi San Juan | | Hotel Albahia | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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