The Basilica of Santa Maria

You’re now standing in front of the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria, the oldest church in Alicante! It was built in the 13th century in the Valencian Gothic style, but the Baroque façade you see today dates back to the 15th century, when the church was rebuilt after being destroyed in a fire. Like the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolas de Bari, this basilica was constructed over the site of a former mosque. You may know that the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule for seven centuries, from the conquest of the Visigothic Kingdom in 711 to the fall of Granada, the last stronghold, during the Christian Reconquista led by Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1492. Those 700 years left a profound mark on Spain, especially on its architecture. Many mosques were either replaced or transformed into churches, just like this one. The entrance is particularly eye-catching, designed by Bautista Borja. Inside, you’ll find an ornate Rococo high altar, richly decorated chapels, and a grand baptismal font made from Carrara marble. The basilica has been recognised as a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest since 1983.