History of Alicante

The area of Alicante was first inhabited 7000 years ago with settlements on the slopes of Mount Benacantil, where today the Castillo de Santa Barbara is situated. The eastern coast of Spain was on the route for Greek traders, and small trading ports were established. In the 6th century BC armies from Carthage and Rome began to fight for control of the Iberian Peninsua, with the Romans ruling Iberia for some 700 years.

Moorish rule

But with Rome in decline little resistance was offered to the Arab occupation of the Alicante area.  The Arab's brought with them gifts of oranges, rice, and Moorish art. The Moors went on to rule eastern and southern Spain until the 11th century. Under Moorish rule the city was developed with the castle built for defence. The Castellan King Alfonso X, conquered the city in 1246, and in 1308 Alicante was incorporated into the Kingdom of Valencia. By the late 16th century Alicante had become the key port of Castile, with a growing trade income.

Stability and recovery

Throughout history, Alicante has been involved in a number of conflicts and all the attacks have come from the sea. In the late 17th century the city was under bombardment from the French Armada, and soon after was caught up in the War of Spanish Succession. There was more stability in Alicante in the 18th and 19th century and the city began to recover from the wars and develop considerably, with one of the key events being the completion of the railway to Alicante in 1858.

20th century Alicante

Spain saw much civil unrest in the early part of the 20th century, resulting in the abdication of King Alfonso XIII and the declaration of the Spanish Republic. The early 1930s saw three years of a destructive civil war before Franco was victorious, Alicante remained loyal to the legitimate government of Spain until the end, and was one of the last cities to come under Franco’s rule. Alicante suffered a period of decline under the dictatorship, with severe frosts in the 1940s causing hardship for the orange farmers. Today Alicante is a modern, attractive town, and is the second largest in the Valencia region, with a significant tourist industry.