Alicante surroundings. Elche and Santa Pola

Where to go from Alicante

Alicante is famous for its Mediterranean resorts, where many tourists from all over the world flock in the summer. Here you can not only sunbathe on the beach and swim in the sea, but also visit very interesting places and tourist sites, which are in abundance in the province of Alicante. If you have come on holiday and have already seen all the Alicante sights - be sure to visit the cities and towns nearby, as well as their places of interest. After all, there is so much to see and do here in Spain! So, what are some of the interesting things you will see if you travel south of Alicante?

Interesting places and cities south of Alicante

You can get from Alicante to any city by bus, train or taxi. If you have rented a car, even better, you don't have to be tied to a timetable.

Elche

It is a town located 25 minutes from Alicante towards the centre of the mainland. At first glance, it is an ordinary, unremarkable town. But in fact Elche is home to the largest Palm Garden in Europe. It is also known as the Palm Forest or Palm Grove - El Palmeral de Elche. 

Absolutely charming park within the city with fountains, playgrounds, and of course lots of palm trees (over 200000 trees).

Walking around the city, one cannot help but notice the ever-present sculpture of a bust of a woman with two large discs on either side of her head - this is the main attraction, as well as the symbol and treasure of the city - the Lady of Elche(La Dama de Elche). The author is not known, but the origin of the Lady of Elche dates from the middle of the 5th to the middle of the 3rd century BC! She was discovered by accident in 1897. She was inside a peculiar niche. The mysterious lady has a hole on her back, which gives further food for thought as to her purpose. What did this sculpture symbolise, what is its true significance? There is much debate and questions surrounding it. According to one version, it is a sculpture of a deity who kept something valuable, like a talisman or treasure. And according to another, this sculpture is a funerary sculpture, and at one time was intended to store the ashes of the dead. This is such an interesting and unusual story.

Santa Pola

A small, pretty town on the Mediterranean coast. It is also 25 minutes from Alicante. It has a harbour and a lovely promenade with a promenade area. Santa Pola is famous on the Costa Blanca for its sandy beaches, Santa Pola Castle, Tabarca Island, salt lakes, Rio Safari animal park and Pola Park amusement park.

Santa Pola Castle and Fortress

This stone structure was built in the 16th century for defensive purposes. The castle is square in shape, with a central courtyard inside, a well and chapels. Two bastions and two towers are built on the sides. Nowadays the castle houses the cultural centre of the town with museums of the sea and fishing, exhibition halls, and the chapel remains. Santa Pola Castle is located in the heart of the town, near the beach. 

Tabarca Island

It is a small island, a landmark of Santa Pola, where tourists who come to these places on holiday are keen to go. It is only possible to sail to the island, in the port of Santa Pola it is impossible to miss the employees of the various companies that offer their transport services. The cost of a round trip ticket is approximately 9-10 euros. Quite inexpensive when you consider that a pleasant 20 minute boat or catamaran ride on the sea awaits you.

What to do on the island of Tabarca?

 - Once you arrive on the island, take a stroll through the small village (51 people live here), which has a wonderful main square in the centre.

 - Dive into the crystal clear waters of the island, admiring its underwater beauty and marvelling at the fish, octopus, lobsters, sea urchins. Seahorses and even turtles can sometimes be seen. Snorkelling on Tabarka is very developed and it is rightly considered one of the main activities of tourists on Tabarka.

 - Swim in the delightful waters of its beaches and coves. 

 - Visit the Museo Nueva Tabarca and learn about the island's history.

 - Taste local specialities on the terraces of restaurants with wonderful views.

Salt lakes - Las Salinas de Santa Pola

Santa Pola Natural Park(Parque Natural De Las Salinas) of 2570 hectares with lakes and mountains of salt attracts the eye and attracts interest. Here you can see many different birds: flamingos, herons, cormorants. There is also a small salt museum, after a visit to which you can take a pleasant walk and take photos. Under the influence of the sun, the colour of the water in these lakes is pink, and at sunset you can take great photos, not to mention the pleasure of the walk.

Pola Park

The 24,000 m2 amusement park is designed for families with children. There are rides for different ages - from 2 to 4 years old, from 5 to 7 years old, and from 8 to 17 years old. Everyone will find entertainment to suit their tastes. Although it is said that Pola Park is more for the little ones, adults will have a great time here too. The park has up to 30 different rides, cars, a ball park for little ones, and a stage where they put on some pretty good shows. Tickets are inexpensive and there are often good offers, such as: buy a ticket for today and you can come back tomorrow for free and ride the rides again.

Rio Safari Zoo in Elche(Rio Safari Elche)

Although this zoo belongs to Elche, it's quicker to get there from Santa Pola - less than 10 minutes. It's a great place to spend the day with the kids and see different animals. Rio Safari is a small animal park and conservation centre where 500 animals from all over the world live in their natural habitat. There are lots of palm trees (over 3000), picnic areas, and playgrounds for children - ideal for families with small children.