ALICANTE Alicante is situated in the Bay formed by the Cabo de las Huertas and the Cabo de Santa Pola, at the foothills of the Monte Benacantil. Alicante has a view over the sea and the fertile 'huerta', that surrounds the city. Alicante's historical district is located in the area around the Calle Labradores and the Rambla de Méndez Núñez -a street that a river used to pass through. Town planning and military disasters, such as those suffered during the War of the Spanish Succession, have destroyed the historical architecture of the Medina Laquant. The 19th century was an important time for Alicante as in 1821 the medieval walls were pulled down and the city spread to the east and the north. In 1833 Alicante became the capital of the province; in 1851 it was the first coastal city to be linked to Madrid by train, becoming the national capital's main seaport. Since 1957 more than six and a half million small red, black and cream tiles on the Esplanade have formed one of the most enduring images of Alicante.
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