Basilica of Santa Maria, Alicante, Alicante, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Basilica of Santa María is the oldest church in Alicante, Spain. Begun in the 14th century on the site of a former mosque, it stands on a quiet square in the old town, with a baroque façade in front of a Gothic building. It is a good place to see how the layers of the city's history sit on top of one another.

The story behind it

Alicante was a Moorish town before it became Christian, and the church tells that story in its location. After the Christian conquest, a church was raised where the mosque had stood, a common pattern in towns across Spain. Work began in the 14th century, which makes Santa María the oldest church in the city.

The building was not finished in one go. The Gothic structure came first, and the baroque façade was added in a later era, which is why the front looks so different from the medieval church behind it. Today it holds the title of basilica and is still a working church, not only a monument.

What to look for

• The baroque façade is the showpiece, so stand back in the square and take in its carved stonework and the two towers that frame it.
• The contrast between the ornate front and the older Gothic structure behind it shows that the church was built and changed over several centuries.
• The square itself, Plaza de Santa María, is a calm space with a village feel, quite different from the busy seafront below.
• Look at the building's position on the slope of the old town, where the streets begin to climb towards the castle hill.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 to 30 minutes for the church, longer if you want to sit in the square and look at the façade properly.
• Check current opening hours and whether there is an entrance fee before you go, as both can change and the church may close during services.
• Morning light is kind to the façade, and the square is usually quieter earlier in the day.
• The basilica sits in the old town, so it combines easily with a walk through the surrounding streets and a climb up towards Santa Bárbara castle.

See it on a quest

Two quests pass the basilica. Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Alicante is a murder mystery game, and the basilica is one stop on a longer route through the old town. You walk there on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of the building. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Alicante: The Secret Society of The Light also reaches Santa María as part of a walk through the area, with a secret society theme. As on every quest, you hear the story of each place when you get there and answer a puzzle based on what is around you. It is paid, and one ticket covers the whole group.