Explore the unique flavors of Alicante! CEA offers cultural activities to match your interests. Whether you enjoy concerts, clubs, sports, cooking classes, language exchanges, or something entirely different, our cultural activities help you get involved in local culture.
Hike to Santa Barbara Castle
Hike to Santa Barbara Castle, located 545 feet up Mount Benacantil. This strategic fortress has overlooked the bay since the 9th century, when the Iberian Peninsula was under Arabic control. On December 4, 1248—also known as the feast day of Saint Barbara—Prince Alfonso of Castile captured the castle, giving the fortress its name. Over the next few centuries, the Castle was used as a fortress, as a prison, and reconstructed and abandoned many times until opening to the public in 1963.
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Visit to MARQ Museum
During our visit to the Archeological Museum of Alicante, you’ll learn about the city and region's past. In the prehistory gallery, explore the Paleolithic to Bronze eras and learn about early hunter-gatherers, the appearance of metals, and the influence of Iberian culture, economy, and religion until the Romans arrived. Roman influence lasted until the 4th century, when the medieval times gallery reflects the influence of the many different cultures that lived together in Alicante: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Last, the modern and contemporary rooms bring the years 1500 to 1931 to life, describing significant events during the industrialization and modernization of Alicante.
Rutas Alicantinas
Rutas Alicantinas are designed to acquaint you with the city and province of Alicante. On these short, fun tours, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the city’s surroundings, traditions, festivities, and resources first-hand. Rutas may include visits to:
La Villa and el Museo del Chocolate: La Villajoyosa, or “La Villa” as the locals call it, means “Jeweled Town.” This village is famous for its brightly colored houses and its outstanding chocolate. Visit one of Spain’s oldest chocolate factories, long the economic core of the city and exporter of fine chocolates.
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El Campello and La Lonja del Pescado: Just four miles down the Costa Blanca lies the fishing village of El Campello. Pass through Paseo
Maritimo and La Lonja: Here you'll find the live fish trade, the watchtower, built in 1554 to protect against invasions, and La Isleta, a small peninsula that houses Iberian and Greek remains.
Elche and El Palmeral: Elche is home to Europe’s largest palm grove—home to more than 11,000 palm trees—and hosts the sacred representation of the “Mystery of Elche,” a liturgical drama that’s been enacted since the Middle Ages. Together, the grove and the drama have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Elche is a must see for those who love history and tradition.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering abroad is a smart way to engage with your host culture and community, expand your vocabulary, and meet local Alicantinos while helping others. You can volunteer in many ways, such as joining the Alicante Volunteer Association, helping at the animal shelter, using your time and skills to help others, or volunteering on campus. Potential volunteer sites include:
Become an active member of the Volunteering Center in Alicante. You can participate in events like blood drives, toy gathering campaigns, helping minority groups, or assisting at beneficiary concerts, just to name a few.
Missing your furry friends back home? Volunteer at AsoKa El Grande animal shelter, a non-profit organization whose main goal is to denounce the abandonment and mistreatment of animals. This association promotes animals’ wellbeing and manages adoptions, giving about 70 animals a second lease on life each year. You can help through dog walking, feeding, helping maintain installations, and administering medication. Watch a video presenting this volunteering opportunity.
Volunteer on campus! You can help organize events, participate in informative sessions, and assist other students to make the most of the college life experience.
*Please note: If you intend to volunteer, intern, or participate in service learning with children, you must obtain a criminal background check prior to departure for your program. Please contact your Site Specialist for more information.
Language Exchange Program/Intercambios
You want to hone your Spanish skills, they want to practice their English…win-win! Intercambios are designed for those who wish to practice the Spanish language outside the classroom. We’ll set up an initial meeting and introduce you to Spanish college students; you’ll choose a partner and exchange contact information with the goal of getting together and practicing your language skills. It’s a great way to meet locals and immerse in Alicante culture. Intercambios take place several times during the semester; you can also arrange individual meetings through our One-on-One Intercambio Program.
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Introduction to the Culture of Wine
Winemaking, a long-standing tradition across Alicante and the Comunidad Valencia region, has been around since the Neolithic era. Enjoy an introduction to viticulture (the study of grapes) and oenology (the study of wine); you’ll learn about different types of grapes and wine, as well as how its produced and stored. With the help of an instructor, you’ll sample some of Alicante's and Spain’s most represented wines, and learn to detect nuances in the different types of wine.
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Hercules Club de Fútbol
Take in a professional soccer match; the Hercules de Alicante Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is Alicante’s home team. It was founded in 1922 and currently plays in the second division B. Games are held during the weekends at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez, which seats 30,000 spectators.
Music Club
Interested in music? Apply to participate in the selection sessions for the UA choir or join an amateur practice session to meet musicians or play in a local band. The goal is developing a meet-up center for all musicians on campus and promoting music through public performances.
Film Club
Calling all film enthusiasts! UA’s film club was founded in 1997 to promote film culture among the college community. The club organizes on-and off-campus activities, like film workshops, film cycles, and conferences with film professionals. Don’t forget to check out the materials and movies available at the filmoteca.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (MACA)
During our program, you will have the opportunity to visit MACA, located in the historic center of our city in front of the Basilica de Santa Maria. MACA’s purpose is to research, study, exhibit, and promote contemporary art.
Museo de Bellas Artes Gravina (MUBAG)
Art lovers won’t want to miss our visit to MUBAG, hosted in a historical building in the city center. The museum houses paintings and sculptures of Alicante from the 16th century to the early decades of the 20th century. MUBAG is home to nearly 500 works, including some of the most important regional painters of the 19th century and collections reflecting major trends like historicism, customs, portraits, and landscapes.
Museo de Hogueras
The Museo de Hogueras on La Rambla illustrates the history of the Fallas or Fogueres—a.k.a. the Bonfires of St. John—Alicante’s largest annual festival. During our visit, you’ll learn about this local tradition, which includes giant bonfires, parades, special foods, and the creation and burning of paper effigies. The museum houses samples of some of the best paper statutes that have been created in the history of this festival. For a week every June, experience Alicante to the fullest in this celebration of music, color, powder, and fire.
Museo Taurino
Visit the Museo Taurino to learn about bullfighting, a well-known Spanish tradition. This museum adjoins the Plaza de Toros, a bullfighting ring on Plaza de España square. It houses a permanent exhibition on bullfighters from Alicante and hosts film screenings and talks about the world of bullfighting.
Curso de Tapas and Cocina Española
Without a doubt, one of Spain’s main attractions is its world-renowned cuisine. In collaboration with the Centro Superior de Idiomas de la Universidad de Alicante, CEA is excited to offer you the opportunity to experience and participate in Spanish gastronomy. During this activity, you will learn and practice cooking techniques to prepare authentic Spanish dishes and tapas.
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Cultural Enrichment Series
Complement your academic experience by registering on-site for cultural enrichment opportunities at the University of Alicante through PIC (Punto the Información Cultural.) This is a great way to meet locals and explore specific areas of interest by joining workshops and seminars organized on campus. Once you’re on-site, we’ll provide a list of available courses. Past courses have included:
- Introduction to Documentary Production
- Flamenco Guitar and Percussion
- Body Expression and Contemporary Dance
- Improvisation and Composition Guitar Techniques
- Photojournalism
- Introduction to Narrative Creation: The Game of Fiction
- Creative Photography
Please note that an additional fee may apply.
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