Page 382 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

battlements of the castle to 3pm Sun) has lots of
that overlooks this city old pots, flashy lights, 7 Alicante
and you can literally buttons to press, films Of all Spain’s mainland
see layer upon layer of to watch and a replica provincial capitals,
history spread below you, Phoenician trading ship, Alicante is the most
from Phoenician traders while the super Museo influenced by tourism,
through Roman legionar- del Teatro Romano (www. thanks to the nearby
ies, Islamic architects teatroromanocartagena.org; airport and resorts.
and the armies of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento 9; Nevertheless, this is
Christian Reconquista adult/child €6/5; h10am- a dynamic, attractive
to the factories of the 6pm or 8pm Tue-Sat, to 2pm Spanish city with a
industrial age. Sun) transports visitors castle, old quarter and
As archaeologists con- via escalators and an long waterfront. The
tinue to reveal a long- underground passage to eating scene is exciting
buried, and fascinating, a magnificent, recently and the nightlife is abso-
Roman and Carthagin- restored Roman theatre lutely legendary, whether
ian heritage, the city dating from the 1st you’re chugging pints
is finally starting to century BC. with the stag parties at
get the recognition it 7pm or twirling on the
deserves. The Museo 5 p386 dance floor with the
Nacional de Arqueología The Drive » Get back on the locals seven hours later.
Subacuática (Arqua; AP7 towards Alicante (more There are sweeping
http://museoarqua.mcu. tolls!). After 75km the autovia views over the city from
SPAIN 27 MEDITERRANEAN MEANDER
es; Paseo del Muelle Alfonso rejoins the (free) A7. Follow it the large 16th-century
XII 22; adult/child €3/free; for 32km before taking exit 17A Castillo de Santa Bár-
signposted Alicante.
h10am-8pm or 9pm Tue-Sat,
bara (adult/child €3/1.50;
DETOUR:
ORIHUELA
Start: 6 Cartagena (p379)
Beside the Río Segura and flush with the base of a barren mountain of rock, the
historical heart of Orihuela, with superb Gothic, Renaissance and, especially,
baroque buildings, well merits a detour. The old town is strung out between the river
and a mountain topped by a ruined castle. The main sights are dotted along it, more
or less in a line.
A few of the buildings are particularly worth looking out for. The Convento
de Santo Domingo (Calle Adolfo Claravana; admission €2; h9.30am-1.30pm & 4-7pm or
5-8pm Tue-Sat, 10am-2pm Sun) is a 16th-century convent with two fine Renaissance
cloisters and a refectory clad in 18th-century tilework. One of the town’s splendid
ecclesiastical buildings is the 14th-century Catalan Gothic Catedral de San
Salvador (Calle Doctor Sarget; h10.30am-2pm & 4-6.30pm Tue-Fri, 10.30am-2pm Sat), with
its three finely carved portals and a lovely little cloister. The Renaissance facade of
Iglesia de las Santas Justa y Rufina (Plaza Salesas 1; h10am-1pm & 4-6pm Mon-Fri) is
worth admiring, and its Gothic tower is graced with gargoyles.
Orihuela is between the Cartagena and Alicante stops on this trip. To reach it
branch west off the AP7 onto the CV91 around 70km north of Cartagena.

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