Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of the Alacantí, in the southern part of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 331,750, estimated as of 2008, ranking as the second-largest Valencian city.Including nearby municipalities, Alicante conurbation was populated by 452,462 residents. Population of the metropolitan area (including Elche and satellite towns) was 757,443 as of 2008 estimates, ranking as the eighth-largest metropolitan area of Spain.

Amongst the most notable features of the city are the Castle of Santa Bárbara, which sits high above the city, and the port of Alicante, which was the subject of bitter controversy in 2006-2007 as residents battled to keep it from being changed into an industrial estate.There are a number of notable museums in Alicante. Archaeological Museum of Alicante shed light on history of the region, presenting artifacts from 100,000 years ago up until 19th century. The archaeological museum won the European Museum of the Year award in 2004. On exhibition in Gravina Museum of Fine Arts there are painting and sculptures of Alicante from 16th century to 19th century. The Asegurada Museum of Contemporary Art is currently closed for renovation.

The most important festival, the Bonfires of Saint John, takes place during the summer solstice. This is followed a week later by seven nights of firework and pyrotechnic contests between companies on the urban beach Playa del Postiguet. Another well-known festival is Moros y Cristianos in Altozano or San Blas district. Overall, the city boasts a year-round nightlife, helped by tourists, fun-loving residents, and a large student population of the University of Alicante. The nightlife social scene tends to shift to nearby Playa de San Juan (St. John's Beach) during the summer months.Every summer in Alicante, a two-month-long programme of music, theatre and dance is staged in the Paseo del Puerto. The two largest Alicante football teams are Hércules CF who currently compete in the Spanish Segunda División, and Alicante CF who will play in Segunda División B in the 2009/2010 season. They both host their home games at Estadio José Rico Pérez.