Explanada de España

The Explanada de España, in Alicante

The Explanada de España is the emblematic promenade of Alicante, a palm-lined avenue running along the sea, famous for its mosaic floor of more than six million tesserae of marble drawing waves. The Alicante audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this paseo laid out from 1830, one of the most appreciated places of the town, between cafés, palm trees and an auditorium in the shape of a shell.

The promenade of the six million tesserae

Rio has its esplanade of Copacabana, Nice its promenade des Anglais, and well Alicante has its Explanada de España. It is a palm-lined avenue, running along the sea, whose mosaic floor, made of more than six million tesserae of tricolour marble, draws the emblematic waves of the town. The promenade, lined with cafés and restaurants, remains, although touristic, a very pleasant place to stroll, in the welcome shade of the palm trees. It extends over six hundred metres long, from the marina to the Canalejas park, and runs along what was formerly the dyke of Alicante. It is the governor of the town, Perfecto Manuel Olalde, who had the idea, in 1830, of cleaning and laying out this space; the promenade moreover first bore his name, under the appellation of Paseo de Olalde. It is today one of the most appreciated places of the town, by tourists as by inhabitants. The auditorium you see in front of you is nicknamed the Concha, that is to say the shell, and you easily understand why by observing its shape. It hosts numerous concerts, open-air festivals and other cultural events throughout the year. During the summer, a craft market sets up on the esplanade: you discover there the typical products of the region, like sweets and nougats, as well as numerous objects of local craftwork, perfect for bringing back a souvenir of Alicante. A seaside promenade and an emblematic mosaic, the Explanada de España is a fine stop of the discovery of Alicante.

What to see

Here you walk along the emblematic promenade of Alicante, a six-hundred-metre avenue lined with palm trees along the sea, whose mosaic floor of more than six million tesserae of tricolour marble draws waves; laid out from 1830 by the governor Olalde, lined with cafés, it links the marina to the Canalejas park and shelters the shell-shaped auditorium nicknamed the Concha. The Explanada de España is the emblematic paseo of Alicante. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Explanada de España runs along the seafront of Alicante over six hundred metres, from the marina to the Canalejas park, reachable on foot. It is an open-air promenade freely accessible, lined with palm trees, cafés and restaurants; a craft market is held there in summer. You walk along it at any hour, in the shade of the palm trees.

Why is the Explanada de España of Alicante famous?

For its mosaic floor of more than six million tesserae of tricolour marble, that draws the emblematic waves of the town along a six-hundred-metre avenue of palm trees by the sea; laid out from 1830 by the governor Perfecto Manuel Olalde, lined with cafés and endowed with the shell-shaped auditorium called the Concha, it is one of the most appreciated promenades of Alicante.

Where is the Explanada de España in Alicante?

Along the seafront of Alicante, from the marina to the Canalejas park, in Spain.