ALICANTE, SPAIN -

OLD TOWN BY

TUK-TUK!

Saturday, April 26, 2025, 6 AM, Temperature 64 Degrees, 80% Humidity, W- SW @ 9.3 mph

The Medieval Castillo de Santa Barbara was an impressive sight as we came into the harbor in Alicante. Some hearty souls climbed to the top; we went by Tuk-Tuk! What fun! We went with friends from the Zuiderdam, and we were able to scoot through the narrow, winding streets of Old Town (Barri de Santa Cruz) and go places we wouldn’t see on a big tour bus and certainly wouldn't be able to walk! We were glad our Tuk-Tuk had seatbelts—the streets were very steep and curvy.

Alicante is a port city in southeastern Spain. It is located on the Alicante Bay of the Mediterranean Sea. The city was founded by Phocoena Greeks in 325 BCE and captured by the Romans in 201 BCE. Like most places in the Mediterranean, it was dominated by the Moors for over 500 years, then later besieged by the French in 1709 and the Spanish Federalists of Cartagena in 1873. Today, Alicante is the primary commercial port for Madrid (approx. 260 miles away). The Alicante Cruise Port is new, modern, and can accommodate two large cruise ships, and they offer a free shuttle to the end of the pier (a short walk from there to Paseo de la Marina with a beach and shopping promenade). Alicante has become an increasingly popular tourist destination due to its beautiful beaches, great weather, old town charm, and nightlife. It is also less expensive than other similar resort areas. Our Tuk-Tuk driver said he was glad it was growing more popular, but he didn’t want it to grow too much and spoil things. 

Our Tuk-Tuk climbed up narrow, winding roads to the Barrio Old Town. We passed the Catedral de San Nicolas (Cathedral of Saint Nicholas) and later we spotted one of its blue domes – John was able to get a great photo! We stopped for a photo op at one particularly charming street with brightly painted doors and flowers. When I asked about the people who lived there, our driver said it was just for the tourists – no one lived there (but it sure looked like somewhere you’d like to live). We passed a bright blue house with a sign that identified its 100+ year-old owner on our trek to the Castillo de Santa Barbara. I wasn’t sure our Tuk-Tuk would make the climb, but we did, and the view of the city was incredible.

On the way down, we spotted a large, dark circular arena in the city. We first thought it was a Roman ruin or a sports arena, but it was a bullfighting arena. It is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, built in 1888. We drove past the arena (Plaza de Toros) with running bull sculptures. Bullfighting is still legal in Spain; it is a traditional, cultural event, but not popular with everyone. Tickets were on sale for the 2025 Alicante Bullfighting Fair. We passed many parks and fountains on our way back to the Zuiderdam.

As you can see from the skyline, Alicante is more than its Old Town. It has its share of high rises and is a thoroughly modern city blessed with a great climate, fabulous beaches, and great eating! On the evening when we leave a port, during the introduction for the evening entertainment on the World Stage, our Cruise Director, Kimberly, usually takes an informal poll and asks, “Who would like to live here”? Alicante got an overwhelmingly positive response, probably the highest of any city we’ve visited!