The old city of Alicante is wedged between the beach and the castle. Take a step back in time. Stroll through the charming winding alleys and steps along whitewashed houses with wrought-iron balconies decorated with flowering geraniums. Or visit a museum, a church or a monastery. Then grab a patio table under a palm tree for a refreshing glass of horchata, the local almond drink. An overview of the highlights of Santa Cruz.
‘El Barrio’, as the locals affectionately call their part of town, is the oldest working class neighbourhood in Alicante. For decades this part of town was ignored as tourists flocked either to the castle on top of the mountain or to the beach at the foot of it. Today, Santa Cruz has been nicely restored and a growing number of visitors prefer the cosy hostales in the old city over the large generic hotels on the beach. Don’t worry about getting lost here, that is one of the charms of a visit to maze-like Santa Cruz.