This year when scheduling your VILLAS IN ALICANTE, spare a day and venture over to the Barrio de Santa Cruz for a real treat. This area is pack with history in the way of architecture from palaces to churches; it’s all here just waiting for you to explore this little piece of Spanish lifestyle secreted away in the old part of town.
This year, when you arrive at your VILLAS IN ALICANTE and are trying to make a list of all the places you would like to visit, be sure to put the small neighbourhood in the city known as the Barrio de Santa Cruz on your list. This area is uniquely different with a charm and taste of yesteryear which is enhanced by the small cottages lining the narrow winding streets.
If you do plan a visit to this Spanish part of Alicante the best way to see it is on foot. If you travel by foot you can get up close and personal with all the little nooks and crannies that you will come face to face with around each corner. The centre of El Barrio is the Ayuntamiento with the rest of the neighbourhood spread out around it, like an old wooden wheel with its spokes extending out from the central hub. Obviously the best starting point for a sojourn through the area is at the Ayuntamiento with its beautiful architecture which is typical of the area’s Baroque roots. As you saunter through this intrinsically beautiful area you will be in for a surprise at what's on offer for you to explore such as ancient churches, convents, noble palaces and the Moorish white-washed houses. It’s all here just waiting for you to come and discover its days of past glory. There is so much history packed in this area you need to stop by the tourist information centre and pick up a pamphlet on the area to ensure that you don't miss anything of importance.
To give you some idea of how to get there and what to see, from the suggested starting point of Ayuntamiento start your journey up the Calle de San Agustin. On your way up this street look left to see the San Nicolas Cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas and was elevated to the title of cathedral on 9th March 1959 by Pope John XXIII. This excellent example of Spanish Baroque architecture is easy to find with its blue domed roof. Once you leave the cathedral keep heading up the street to it culmination where you will find one of Alicante's oldest plazas: the Plaza de Quijano. While you are here venture over to the nearby Plaza de San Roque home to the 16th century Hermita de San Roque. If you would like to pay a visit to Alicante’s oldest church head over to the Calle Villavieja home to the 13th century Iglesia de Santa Maria. By far the city’s oldest church, it stands on top of an even older Mosque that was here when the Moors were in power.
While on a day out from your VILLAS IN ALICANTE exploring the Barrio de Santa Cruz take note of not only this history present in this picturesque area but all the shops, cafes and restaurants found in abundance here. If you happen to be in the area at night you will soon fine that this is the place to be for entertainment with all of the little atmospheric bars, nightclubs and discos where you will find something to please everyone’s taste.
Porsche is an avid traveller throughout the holiday region of Spain. She loves writing about all of those special hideaways we all would love to find so keep reading about all of her travels and things to do in this lovely country. At present she is travelling and writing for Akilar.com and telling you just why you should book your dream SPAIN HOLIDAY RENTALS home from the Owners Direct.
