La Explanada de España in Alicante
Alicante city’s famous maritime promenade
The Explanada de España (Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya in Valenciano) is one of the most iconic locations in Alicante city and is also one of the most famous maritime promenades in Spain.
The promenade is strategically located close to the main logistical thoroughfares of the city and can be clearly seen driving into the main urban area or arriving by sea.
The promenade joins onto the Parque de Canalejas and La Rambla de Méndez Núñez, and is just a one minute walk from the Playa del Postiguet. It is parallel to the port, with parking alongside the beach as well as 2 minutes away in Avenida del Almirante Julio Guillén Tato.
The Explanade de España is one of the most popular areas of the city with visiting tourists and is extensively used by residents and visitors alike, enjoying a shaded stroll along its length or taking refreshments in one of the many hostelries and booths along its length.
The Explanada de España has undergone various changes since the 19th century when it was previously called the Paseo de los Mártires (the promenade of the martyrs) in memory of the shootings that took place in 1844. On the 8th March of 1844 the colonel Pantaleón Boné together with his group of 24 loyal companions were executed for being the most active participants of the progressive rebellion and rising up against the government. The Explanada was therefore named the Paseo de los Mártires after the revolution in recognition of Boné and his men who were greatly respected and commemorated by the Spanish liberals at the time.
However after the Spanish Civil War it was renamed the Explanada de España in 1941, and in 1955 plans were made to completely remodel and resurface the area, as the growing port activity meant that more walkway space was needed to make room for larger crowds of tourists and locals gathering along the seafront. What was originally just a narrow sandy pathway became one of the most emblematic leisure spaces in the city, as new pavements were built between rows of tall palm trees and flowers were planted to attract passers-by who were offered a new shady and attractive spot to sit and relax.
The most distinctive feature of the promenade is its tiled floor, which was built from marble mosaic pieces in three distinctive colours; Alicante red, ivory cream and Maquina black (like a very dark blue) designed in a wave pattern to give the allusion of the waves in the sea. In total there is a surface area of 10.000 square metres made up of more than 6,000,000 pieces of different coloured tiles and the walkway is bordered by tall palm trees and hedges built in rectangular boarders, with wooden benches on both sides.
The Explanada is now a busy, sociable and bustling place, offering a variety of places to eat with numerous cafés, restaurants serving typical Alicante food, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, but also more emerging, new franchises particularly popular to tourists.
At night time the Explanada de España is very atmospheric as it is filled with street sellers, buskers, performers and artists selling their paintings, and every summer there is an artisan market that extends all the way along the promenade with booths selling a variety of handicrafts and food typical to the region.
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