Stroll through a bustling market taking note of the ingredients and then join a chef who will show you how to prepare paella from scratch, an iconic dish that will be your lunch. The items at the Central Market are locally sourced, so they truly represent the ingredients found in the regional cuisine. After meandering through the stalls, interacting with the vendors and sampling some of the delicacies, you will walk to a nearby restaurant for a paella workshop. The chef will show you step by step how to prepare authentic paella Alicante-style. You will have seen many of the ingredients in the market, which will make the preparation all the more relevant. Although the city of Valencia just to the north is known as the birthplace of paella, the version made in Alicante is much the same. Feel free to ask questions as the chef prepares the meal, which you will dine on afterwards.

Gain an understanding of the many cultures that have influenced the gastronomy of Alicante and then dine on a meal that reflects some of those impacts. As you will discover while browsing the city’s esteemed Archaeological Museum, the Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and Moors have all left their marks on Alicante since its founding in 325 BC. You will also see artifacts from more modern civilizations that reveal how the city has transitioned into its present state. The 16th and 17th centuries were particularly volatile and to protect Alicante from the invading pirates security towers were built along the coast to protect the residents. You will pass some of these soaring stone towers on the way to the lunch venue. The main dish will be paella, prepared Alicante-style. The local version differs from others in that the rice is sautéed in salmorreta, a tomato-based sauce with ñora peppers that imparts a unique flavor.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Browse an archaeological museum with artifacts from conquerors of the Alicante area.
• Learn how those invaders influenced the culture and gastronomy.
• Behold some of the security towers built centuries ago to protect Alicante from pirates.
• Dine on a version of paella that reflects the local influences on this traditional dish.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into the history and gastronomy of Altea, a snow-white coastal town that boasts the ruggedly beautiful Sierra Bernia Mountains as a backdrop. While walking the cobbled streets of Old Town, you can’t help but feel a great sense of serenity. You will likely come across leafy plazas shaded by citrus trees, arched passageways to uncrowded pedestrian-only areas and trellis after trellis adorned with brightly colored bougainvillea. The blue-domed Nuestra Señora del Consuelo is one of the most striking churches on the Costa Blanca, and is well worth a visit. The higher you wander in Altea, the more magnificent the views, especially of the sea. A lengthy promenade lined with artisanal boutiques, restaurants and tapas bars runs along the beach. If you snack on the local cuisine while walking about, be sure to leave room for the traditional lunch that will be served at the Oustau restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the whitewashed town of Altea, one of the prettiest settings on the Costa Blanca.
• Enjoy a guided tour of the landmarks and free time to explore further on your own.
• Savor a traditional lunch at a restaurant in Altea’s atmospheric Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Sample a soft nougat sweet in the village famed for its production and enjoy a traditional paella lunch. For centuries, confectioners in Jijona have made the nougat that is now so synonymous with the village that it’s known as Jijona turrón. The ingredients include honey, toasted almonds and egg whites. After tasting the golden dessert, you will understand why it’s so popular. Back in Alicante, you will visit the Monastery of Santa Faz, which is renowned for holding a piece of fabric that Saint Veronica is said to have used to wipe Jesus’ face on the way to his crucifixion. The image of his face was supposedly transferred onto the fabric, which is now in a locked room that can only be accessed with four keys, each held in a different part of the city. A hearty lunch with seafood fideuà, meet and vegetables paella, the most typical rice in Alicante at Finca Santa Luzia restaurant.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See how confectioners in Jijona prepare the village’s namesake nougat and sample it.
• Visit a monastery that guards a sacred piece of fabric said to bear the image of Jesus’ face.
• Enjoy a traditional lunch with a paella and fideua as the main courses.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.