Alicante tours

Situated on the shores of the Mediterranean, Alicante's had plenty of visitors. Some came to trade, others to conquer - and all left their mark. To get a handle on this history, take a private Alicante tour and discover the city's secrets with a local guide. Start at Iglesia de Santa Maria, a Gothic church constructed on the site of a former mosque. Wind through the Barrio de la Santa Cruz on route to Santa Barbara castle, then ask your guide to point out the Huertas de Alicante, defensive structures built to repel Barbary pirates. At night, mingle with the crowds along the Explanada de España, a marble tiled promenade. Alicante serves up sumptuous cuisine, whether it's a belt loosening lunch or small plates of tapas. Try paella de mariscos, a rice dish packed with shrimp, clams and mussels. The beaches of the Coast Blanca are pretty, but trade the overdeveloped resorts for Altea and Xàbia, where you can imagine life before package holidays