Explanada de España in Alicante, a promenade among palms

Explanada de España in Alicante is undoubtedly the city’s most popular pedestrian street. It is almost 600 meters long and runs parallel to the harbor, from Puerta del Mar to Canalejas Park. With a mosaic floor that mimics the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, the promenade area is an ideal place for a stroll while enjoying the sea view.

What to See on Explanada de España

Explanada de España is the preferred place for Alicantinos to take a walk. Over half a kilometer of pedestrian street, it features a distinctive mosaic floor flanked by four rows of palm trees. At the northern end stands the Santa Bárbara Castle, perhaps Alicante’s most recognizable postcard image, offering the best panoramic views of the city. To the south lies Canalejas Park, which serves as an extension of the Explanada promenade, filled with giant, centuries-old fig trees that prevent the sun’s rays from piercing through.

On one side lies the Mediterranean Sea with Alicante’s sailing harbor and commercial port. On the other side are some of the city’s most representative buildings, where Casa Carbonell stands out as an example of modernist architecture with multiple domes that characterize the skyline.

A Mosaic Floor Reminiscent of the Mediterranean

The most striking element on Alicante’s promenade is undoubtedly the spectacular mosaic floor. Along the half kilometer of Explanada, there are six and a half million mosaic tiles, each approximately four centimeters in length and width. They combine three colors: Alicante red (a muted garnet red with white edges), ivory cream, and marquina black (a bluish black).

The mosaic pattern is maritime-inspired: the three colors alternate to form a wavy pattern reminiscent of the waves in the Mediterranean Sea.

Four Rows of Palms

Another characteristic feature of Explanada de España is the four rows of palm trees that flank the promenade, two on each side. They are so inseparable from the promenade for Alicantinos that the city council must invest resources in their preservation, which is not easy compared to other tree species.

Their roots pose a real problem as they grow, bending the sidewalk and eventually breaking the cobblestones. At one point, replacing the palms with another type of tree or plant decoration was considered, but this was rejected due to the inherent value of the palms. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the damaged tiles, trim, and re-pave the damaged areas every few years.

Casa Carbonell, the Most Prominent Building on Explanada de España

Out of the nearly 600 meters that Explanada de Alicante stretches, Casa Carbonell is undoubtedly the most impressive building. This residential building from the 1920s was designed by the Alicante architect Juan Vidal Ramos and is the largest example of modernist architecture in the city. Its domes are a very distinctive visual element in Alicante’s landscape.

Behind the construction stood the textile businessman Enrique Carbonell from Alcoy. Carbonell made his fortune during World War I and spent long periods in Alicante, which led him to decide to build a building for his stays in the city. The construction of Casa Carbonell began on grounds where there had previously been a food market in the 19th century.

In the year the building was inaugurated, a small airplane from Algiers crashed onto one of the building’s terraces, resulting in the deaths of both crew members and the partial collapse of one of the domes. Today, Casa Carbonell houses several offices as well as some private residences. It is located opposite Casa Lamaignare, also on Explanada, whose facade is another gem of Valencian modernism.

Concha Auditorium: Outdoor Concerts

Another landmark on Explanada de España is the municipal Concha Auditorium. It is a regular stage for several concerts, both from the Municipal Symphony Orchestra and music bands from the province of Alicante. Additionally, it hosts many outdoor performances and festivals such as Alacant Rock in the summer.

This stage, approximately 40 square meters, has spectacular acoustics due to its cone-shaped construction. It was renovated in 2015 to repair damage and received a special layer of paint to combat moisture, a recurring problem due to its proximity to the sea.

Canalejas Park, Alicante’s Oldest Park

Established in 1886, Canalejas Park is Alicante’s oldest park and the most beloved among locals. A place where neighbors and visitors can continue their walk when leaving the Explanada promenade, which the park extends, or when visiting the Sailing Harbor. The park is named after José Canalejas, an Alicante politician who became the President of the Spanish government’s Council of Ministers between 1910 and 1912. Canalejas also placed great emphasis on modernizing the city, expanding the harbor, and developing its infrastructure.

The architect behind this beautiful green area was González Altés. The park’s ground is soil, it has several trees and bushes separated by beds, and in the central walkway, you can take a stroll guarded by large fig trees planted along the sides.

At one of the entrances, you’ll find white marble sculptures of two dogs, and at another entrance, two lion figures that were donated to Alicante by Manuel Pritz in the 18th century. Other interesting elements include the two pools, a monument dedicated to the Alicante writer Carlos Arniches, and the 18th-century Bird Flute Fountain.

Undoubtedly, it is a place to relax and enjoy nature.

The Explanada Promenade and Its Various Names

Explanada de España is built on what was once Alicante’s pier. In 1830, it began to take its current form. The city’s civil governor at the time, Perfecto Manuel de Olalde, initiated the clearing of the area and the construction of a promenade with gardens. In fact, the promenade’s first name was precisely this: Paseo de Olalde.

It was not until 1868 that the area was renamed. After the revolution known as the September Revolution, Alicante’s city council named the promenade ‘Paseo de los Mártires de la Libertad’ in honor of the twenty-four progressive activists who were executed twenty years earlier at the pier. Finally, after the Civil War, it received the name it bears today: Explanada de España.

Leisure on Alicante’s Explanada

Like any worthy pedestrian street, Explanada de España also has several bars and restaurants where you can take a break and have something to drink. Some local recommendations:

• Horchatería Peret: Probably the most characteristic bar in the area and one of the few that has survived decades against all odds. One and a half centuries of serving horchatas in a kiosk that has been passed down from generation to generation.
• La Terraza del Gourmet: A Mediterranean restaurant spot, as the name suggests, has an interesting terrace. It is also specialized in breakfast.
• Unik Asiático: Located perpendicular to Explanada de España, it offers a varied buffet with Asian specialties, where each dish is freshly prepared in the kitchen.

Additionally, you can often find artists on the promenade who make a living: magicians, mimes, musicians, painters… Explanada de España is also a fantastic place to stop for shopping. Since 1979, several stalls with crafts and souvenirs have been established in the area to sell jewelry accessories and leather goods as well as furs and textiles.

What You Can Buy at the Stalls on Alicante’s Explanada

One of the liveliest areas, which also offers the most fun, is the aforementioned Explanada de España in Alicante. In addition to being a great place to take a walk, watch street performers, or have a horchata at the nearby terraces, it provides opportunities to shop without having to walk far. Do not expect luxury stores, as the market stalls on Explanada primarily sell souvenirs or small purchases.

The tradition of these permanent craft stalls dates back to 1979, although the products offered have changed significantly since then. Now, in the so-called “hippie stalls,” you can find plenty of jewelry, wood crafts, ceramics, and leather goods, paintings, ethnically themed clothing, organic toys, incense, and many other items ideal as souvenirs.

The market’s opening hours are Monday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM and from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays open from 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM.