ALICANTE, capital of the province of that name, episcopal see with modern cathedral, rising in a crescent from the bay up the low surrounding hills with white flat-roofed houses ending in an old citadel on bare rock (400ft.). Pop. (1930) 73,071. A dry and equable climate makes it a health-resort, and large suburbs have been built since 1905. The bays afford good anchorage, and large harbour works since 1902 have improved what is one of the chief ports of Spain. The trade of Alicante consists in the manufacture of cotton, linen and woollen goods, cigars, con fectionery and castor oil; the importation of coal, iron, machinery, manures, timber, oak staves and fish; and the exportation of lead, fruit, farm produce and red wines, which are sent to France for blending with better vintages. Fine marble is procured in the island of Plana near the coast.
Alicante was the Roman Lucentum; but, despite its antiquity, it has few Roman or Moorish remains. In 718, it was occupied by the Moors, who were only expelled in 1304, and made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city in 1331. Alicante was besieged by the French in 1709, and by the Federalists of Carta gena in 1873.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.-M. R. Garcia and A. Montero y Perez, Ensayo Bibliography.-M. R. Garcia and A. Montero y Perez, Ensayo biografico bibliografico de escritores de Alicante y de su provincia (Alicante, 189o) .