Province of Alicante
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| Province of Alicante | |
|---|---|
 TUBS · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source | |
| Name | Alicante |
| Native name | Provincia de Alicante |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Area total km2 | 5,816 |
| Population total | 1,858,000 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Capital | Alicante |
| Autonomous community | Valencian Community |
| Country | Spain |
Province of Alicante is a coastal province in the southeastern corner of Spain, forming part of the Valencian Community and bordering the Region of Murcia. The province contains a mix of Mediterranean coastline, interior mountain ranges, and agricultural plains, with principal urban centers including Alicante, Elche, Benidorm, Orihuela, and Torrevieja. Its strategic location on the Mediterranean Sea has shaped connections to Barcelona, Valencia, Murcia, and maritime routes linking to Palma de Mallorca, Almería, and Gibraltar.
Geography
The province occupies part of the Iberian Peninsula and features the Prebaetic System, the Betic Cordillera, and coastal formations such as the Costa Blanca and the Mar Menor littoral. Notable mountain ranges include the Sierra de Aitana, Peñón de Ifach, and Sierra de Crevillente, while river systems such as the Segura River, Vinalopó River, and Guadalentín River irrigate plains near Elche and Orihuela. Protected areas incorporate the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Natural Park, Serra Gelada Natural Park, and the Hondo (El Hondo) Natural Park, and the climate is classified within Mediterranean variants used in studies by AEMET and observed near ports such as Port of Alicante and Denia Harbour.
History
Human presence in the province is attested from Neolithic sites through Iberian settlements such as La Alcudia and Roman foundations like Ilici Augusta (Elche). The region underwent successive influences from Carthage, Rome, and the Visigothic Kingdom, followed by conquest under the Umayyad Caliphate and integration into the Taifa of Murcia. The Christian Reconquista advanced under figures tied to the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Valencia, with feudal domains recorded in charters resembling transfers under James I of Aragon and legal frameworks like the Furs of Valencia. Modern events include involvement in the War of Spanish Succession, industrial expansion connected to ports such as Alicante Port, the late 19th-century phylloxera crisis affecting vineyards near Pego, and 20th-century upheavals including the Second Spanish Republic, the Spanish Civil War, and postwar development associated with migration patterns to Barcelona and Valencia.
Demographics
Population centers include Alicante, Elche, Benidorm, Torrevieja, and Orihuela; demographic profiles reflect interplays among native Valencian Community speakers, Spanish-speaking communities, and immigrant populations from United Kingdom, Germany, Morocco, and Romania. Census data collected by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística document growth driven by tourism hubs and agro-industrial towns such as Alcoy and Novelda. Religious and cultural institutions include the Alicante Cathedral and Basilica of Santa María; health networks are administered by systems coordinated with Generalitat Valenciana and hospitals like Hospital General Universitario de Elche.
Economy
Economic activity blends tourism concentrated in Benidorm, Calpe, Denia, and Javea with agriculture in the Vinalopó and Segura valleys producing wine, citrus, and almond crops. Industrial sectors include footwear and leather in Elche and Elda, marble and mining in Novelda, and services anchored by ports such as Port of Alicante and the Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. The province participates in international trade through links to Port of Valencia and Port of Barcelona and hosts fairs and exhibitions in venues connected to organizations like the Chamber of Commerce of Alicante and events patterned on trade shows such as those in Feria de Madrid and IFEMA. Financial services are provided by branches of Banco Santander, Caixa Bank, and regional banks that integrate with EU frameworks including the Eurozone.
Government and administrative divisions
Administratively the province is one of three provinces in the Valencian Community alongside Valencia and Castellón, and it is subdivided into judicial districts and municipalities such as Alicante, Elche, Benidorm, Torrevieja, and Orihuela. Provincial functions coordinate with the Generalitat Valenciana and local ayuntamientos modeled after the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and electoral systems regulated by the Ministry of the Interior. Historic comarcas include Marina Baixa, Marina Alta, Comtat, and Vinalopó Mitjà, and intermunicipal cooperation aligns with EU cohesion policies and funding from programs like the European Regional Development Fund.
Culture and tourism
Cultural heritage features the Misteri d'Elx (a UNESCO-recognized liturgical drama), the annual Bonfires of Saint John (Hogueras de San Juan) in Alicante, and festivals such as Moors and Christians reenactments in Orihuela and Alcoy. Architectural highlights include Santa Bárbara Castle, Tabarca Island heritage, Elche Palm Grove (Palmeral of Elche), and Baroque churches like Orihuela Cathedral. Museums include the Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ), the Contemporary Art Museum of Alicante (MACA), and maritime collections tied to Maritime Museum of Denia. The province is a destination for beach tourism on the Costa Blanca with resorts such as Benidorm, cultural gastronomy anchored in dishes recognized by associations like Denominación de Origen Protegida schemes, and eco-tourism in parks like Serra Gelada Natural Park and the El Fondo Natural Park.
Transportation and infrastructure
Transport infrastructure comprises the Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, rail connections on the Mediterranean Corridor including services by Renfe and high-speed links to Madrid, bus networks operated by companies like ALSA, and highways such as the AP-7, A-31, and N-332. Maritime services include ferries to Balearic Islands ports and cruise calls at the Port of Alicante. Utilities and communications follow national frameworks under agencies like Red Eléctrica de España and telecommunications firms such as Telefónica and Vodafone Spain, while regional planning integrates coastal protection measures related to EU directives and maritime hazard assessments conducted with institutions like the Spanish Institute of Oceanography.