The Explanada de España is the promenade on Alicante’s Waterfront, it runs next to the pier for 600 meters.
With its wavy design and rows of palm trees is, nowadays, the favorite of locals and visitors for a relaxed stroll, enjoying the terrasses sprinkled on it on sunny days its easy to see many families and elders that share the space in harmony while listening to the musicians on the “La Concha” open air auditorium, check for trinkets, gifts and souvenirs on the stands, feeding the pigeons or just sitting on the benches and chairs sunbathing.
The current design dates back from the fifties when the mayor, Agatangelo Soler, decided to pave it with marble of three colors that gives its characteristic image; inspired on the one on the square of El Rossio on Lisbon.
This promenade has hosted many events during the history of the city and even is mentioned on the correspondence of the writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of “The little prince”, who was delighted by its charm and light. Nowadays it has been barely transformed and keeps the essence of the promenades where the people use to walk with their best clothes after the religious services on Sundays, however this crowds have been changed by the visitors that enjoy of our city together with the locals that flock to it on weekends and festivities.
It’s decorated with four rows of palm-trees that help lower the temperature thanks to their shade and allows the visitor to enjoy it even on the hottest days, and if that doesn’t work there is always the chance of enjoying of a refreshment on one of the traditional creameries; where you can try the nougat ice cream or a refreshing horchata.
The Explanada starts next to the beach and the old town and runs you towards the expansion of the city and its nearby park of “Canalejas” with its Ficus trees, but we will speak about it on another post.