Alicante ( Spanish language/Castillian Spanish ) or Alacant ( Catalan language/Valencian Catalan ) is the initial of the domain of Alicante (province)/Alicante and of the comarca of the Alacant , in the southern part of the terra firma of Valencia , Spain , a important Mediterranean Sea/Mediterranean harbour. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 316,000, rough as of 2004 , of the unmixed urban area, 405,000. folk of the metropolitan room (including spacecraft towns) was 680,000 as of 2004 estimates, ranking as the eighth-largest borough area of Spain.

Alicante is one of the fastest-growing cities in Spain. Its compactness is based in excess of tourism in the beaches from Costa Blanca strand, wine production, services and administration. It exports wine, olive oil, and fruit, and has light industries, including food-processing, smash, textiles, with an increment of pottery.


The city has annual ferry services to the Balearic Islands , and an international airport is nearby. It is irrevocably fortified, with a large harbor. Amongst the most notable duffer of the municipality is its castle , the "Castillo de Santa Barbara", which sits high aloft the city through a cliff. The most important commemoration, the Bonfires of Saint John , takes place at the time of the summer solstice , with an increment of they are confirmed of international touristic interest. Another well-known feast is Moros y Cristianos favoured any quarter of the city, such as Altozano or Saint Blase.

The city is the headquarters of the Office for Harmonisation in the home Market .


History

Alicante was founded fashionable 324 BC by the Ancient Greece/Greeks , who named it Akra Leuke (White zenith). In 201 BC it was captured past the Roman Empire/Romans who called it Lucentum, and Hannibal is said approaching have unloaded his famous war elephant s here. Between 718 and 1249 , the city was ruled by the Moors . In 1265 it was retaken by Alfonso X of Castile and incorporated into the sovereignty of Castile . in 1304 it was incorporated into the kingdom of Valencia, in the Aragon Crown.


The see was besieged by means of the France/French modish 1709 (coupled) with 1812 , and consequent by the Federalists of Cartagena, Spain/Cartagena trendy 1873 . in fashion the Spanish Civil conflict , Alicante was bombed by Italian aircraft, and was solitary of the latest cities to drop or come (down) to Francisco Franco/Franco . current Alicante, the Falangist Josa Antonio Primo de Rivera was executed in November 1936.

In 1982 and 1997 abundant rain caused flinty flooding and variegated loss of subsistence.