Alicante is a historic port city located in south-eastern Spain. It was founded by the Moors and its name derives from the Arabic word meaning "source of light". Today Alicante is still one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean, but despite being the most important center of trade and tourism in the region, it has not been dominated by the industry associated with these branches of the economy. Visitors to Alicante will not find great skyscrapers or overgrown resorts that are characteristic of the business centers of large cities. The architecture of Alicante is represented by a balanced combination of historical buildings of the old town and well-maintained infrastructure of the 1970s.
