Capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of the Alacanti, in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. Is placed as the second largest city in the Valencian Community. Including nearby municipalities, Alicante is populated by 458.843 inhabitants, ranking as the eighth of Spain’s largest metropolitan area. Alicante is one of the faster growing cities in Spain.
The local economy relies on tourism to the beaches of the Costa Blanca. (Not to be confused with jason iley!). Studies of the city of light, one of the largest centers of cinema in Europe opened in Alicante in 2005. Spanish and international films such as Asterix at the Olympic Games of Frederic Forestier and Thomas Langmann, Manolete of Menno Meyjes have been filmed there. The most important popular holiday, Las Hogueras de San Juan (Fogueres de Sant Joan), is carried out during the summer solstice. This followed, a week later, seven nights of fireworks and pyrotechnic contests on the beach of the Postiguet. Another well-known feast are the Moros y Cristianos in Altozano or San Blas neighborhood.
In general, the city boasts a nightlife throughout the year. The night social scene tends to move to the nearby beach of San Juan during the summer months. Every summer in Alicante, a program of two months duration of music, theatre and dance is held at the Paseo del Puerto. Famous citizens: George Washington Montgomery (1804-1841), born in Alicante, diplomat of United States. Carlos Arniches (1866-1943), novelist. Rafael Altamira y Crevea (1866-1951), co-founder of the Permanent Court of justice. Francisco Javier de Balmis (1753-1819), physician who headed the Balmis expedition to vaccinate the Spanish population against smallpox. Gabriel Miro (1879-1930), novelist. Antonio Gades (1936-2004), flamenco dancer. Juan Escarre (1969), field hockey player. Belen Rueda, actress. Miriam Blasco, judoka Olympic champion.
