Alicante is a sunny port city on the east coast of Spain. Wide snow-white beaches surrounded by dense forests and a rich history are its main highlights that attract travellers from all over the world. Places such as Playa del Postiguet, Playa de Almadraba, Explanada de España, and Castillo de Santa Bárbara reveal the essence of the city.
However, the local cultural and technological scene is no less impressive. Museums, specialised centres, and science parks in Alicante tell about art, science, and modern achievements of mankind. This means your trip to this Costa Blanca resort can be both relaxing and educational.
So, are you ready for discoveries? Then take your whole family, hire a car for 7 people, and go on an adventure! A spacious minivan makes it possible to travel at your own pace and forget about any schedules. You can find cars for hire in Alicante at Rental24.co.uk, which features a convenient booking engine for leisure and business needs.
Below, we have selected for you the best cultural and scientific spots in Alicante. Thus, fasten your seat belts and start your big exploration tour now.
Alicante Science Park (PCA)
With over 3,000 square metres of office and industrial space, Alicante Science Park is a technology ecosystem that is home to over 30 innovative companies. The facility works as part of the University of Alicante and collaborates closely with it to achieve the greatest efficiency.
The main specialisation of companies sitting within this cluster is health, biotechnology, IT, communications, and economics. Among the most famous enterprises are Lucentia Lab, Orizon, LynxView, Cloud Levante, Weitec, and other giants that have gone from idea to market within Alicante Science Park.
The list of tasks in this advanced space is the development of business ideas, management training, as well as the improvement of skills in the fields of economics and communications. PCA regularly holds tech conferences and events that collect innovative ideas from around the world and bring them to life. The following sections are available in the technology space:
- Bioresearch area
- Experimental zone for the study of plants
- Business and communications space
- Technical research area
- Waste management and energy sustainability research area
Alicante Science Park has a visitor centre where you can apply for a guided tour. A walk through this technological cluster on the Mediterranean coast of Spain will complete your holiday with new discoveries.
Museum of the University of Alicante (MUA)
Located near the science park, the Museum of the University of Alicante transforms the exhibition space into cultural dissemination. It combines art, theatre, cinema, music, photography, contemporary art, research, collecting, archaeology, and the latest artistic trends.
The museum has a wide variety of exhibits on various topics, but the main theme of the museum is contemporary art. This museum considers its mission to provide its visitors with the opportunity to look at art objects that reflect the state of culture, society, history and their development. One more task of the MUA is to create a dynamic cultural space with continuous learning, discussions, and meetings.
Yes, the introduction of innovations and experiments has brought permanent and temporary exhibitions closer to the cultural contemporary space. The Museum of the University of Alicante is trying to improve the cultural life of society and make people’s communication more interesting.
Archaeological Museum
If you gravitate to historic sciences, head to the Museo Arqueológico, an important attraction in Alicante. It was opened in 2000 in the building of the old San Juan de Dios Hospital, designed by Juan Vidal Ramos in 1929. Its collection of over 81,000 items illustrates the history of the province and its rich artistic heritage.
However, the main feature of this cultural space is its ultra-modern design and the use of audiovisual means of material demonstration. As a result, the Museo Arqueológico received an award from the European Forum for excellence in innovation.
Over the past year, more than 130,000 visitors have explored the museum’s extensive exhibitions. It offers several halls, including the Hall of Iberian Culture, the Hall of Roman Culture, the Hall of the Middle Ages and the Hall of Modern Culture. Undoubtedly, you will have a great time surrounded by art and science.
Contemporary Art Museum of Alicante (MACA)
MACA sits in a historic 17th-century building in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood. The main task of the museum is to acquaint visitors with the fine arts of the period from the 20s to the 80s of the last century and instil in them an understanding and love for modernism and abstractionism.
It occupies 4 floors, while the total exposition area reaches 4,000 square metres. The entire collection includes 177 masterpieces by outstanding masters of the 20th century. The exposition is constantly changing, because it’s impossible to present so many works at once. The main part of the halls introduces the developments of the famous abstract artist Eusebio Sempere.
The complete retrospective includes first sketches in watercolour and oils and culminates in abstract sculptural compositions in chromed steel. Particularly interesting are the artist’s experiments with new materials for sculptors – stainless and chrome steel.
Water Museum
Also called the Museo de Agua, this museum offers its visitors cultural and didactic material through which they can learn about the history of water in Alicante. You will find it in the historic city centre, in Plaza del Puente, next to one of the entrances to Ereta Park.
The outdoor exhibition includes special wells that were made in the nineteenth century to alleviate the effects of prolonged droughts in the city. The volume of wells excavated in the rock is 141, 275 and 425 cubic metres, which looks impressive even today. If you go inside the building, you will enjoy 3 floors of interactive exhibits related to the city’s water supply and sanitation. This allows you to understand the peculiarities of the operation of such systems and gain new knowledge.
Alicante is a multifaceted destination. In addition to leisure activities such as hitting the beaches, walking in the parks, and sitting in waterfront cafes, the city offers various educational options. So, visit at least one of the places on our list to add a touch of science to your future trip!
