I’ve been to Alicante many times and have felt, as cities go, it is a very picturesque water front place, with a harbour hosting some very expensive yachts and the history going back centuries shown in the Caste of Santa Barbara. What I never considered, and don’t ask me why, was that is also has a cathedral. Maybe because it isn’t in view from all over the town, it doesn’t occupy a central point, and quite honestly, it is hidden down the narrow streets of the old town. A short walk away is a convent and a Basilica as well. We even walked around the building and still were a little unsure that this was in fact the cathedral so unassuming the outside is.
However once inside this place of worship has a feel of a place where God is central and worshiped and prayer takes place daily. Our visit coincided with the preparations for a wedding taking place in about 1 hour. Flowers, photographers and guests arriving, the organist practicing pieces of music on a magnificent organ all added to the sense of awe and wonder in this place, which quite simply was beautiful.
A little further down the road is the much smaller and traditional Spanish basilica of Santa Maria. Not quite the same feel in here, not in a bad way, but just not quite as awe inspiring. Worship has taken place on this site for centuries. Built between the 14th and 16th centuries on the site of a mosque it is the oldest active place of worship in Alicante.
Walking down the street between the basilica and the cathedral I spot a plaque on the wall. This is the start of one of the many routes of the Camino de Santiago de la Compestela, this one being the Ruta Sureste and joins the French Way at Burgos (see earlier in the blog). Some web site also have the Ruta de la Lana (route of wool) also starting in Alicante. Having been on the camino elswhere on our Journey of Discovery this was a surpise. 
Holy Places - a journey of discovery 