Alicante is a busy, bustling seaside city, with the backdrop of the marvelous castle of Santa Barbara perched on a mountain looming over and protecting the city and its bay. Its old narrow streets are full of charm and history making it an extremely popular place to buy property in Spain. The port of Alicante is home to fisherman and a large nautical fraternity, often the stop-over point for cruise liners. It is within fifteen minutes of the international airport of El Altet and offers ferry services to the Balearic Islands and North Africa