Explanada de España is one of the city’s emblems. It runs parallel to one of the port wharfs and is lined on both sides with rows of palm trees. The floor is decorated with 6,600,000 tricolour marble tiles forming a design with a characteristic wave effect mosaic. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy these areas at any time of the year, thanks to the pleasant climate. Throughout the year there are workshops, entertainment, children’s theatre, puppet shows, etc. predominantly aimed at children and families. Other parks and gardens worth visiting are: La Ereta park: located on the slopes of Mount Benacantil at the foot of the Santa Bárbara Castle, opposite El Postiguet beach. From here you can enjoy unbeatable views of the city and follow an interesting route from the summit down to the city’s old quarter. El Palmeral park: is one of the most spectacular parks in the city, formed by a wooded area containing palm trees, ponds, lakes and artificial streams. It contains sports facilities and a cross-country cycling track, as well as a pavilion where a regular programme of events is scheduled including activities, children's theatre, puppet shows, etc. Canalejas: It is one of the most traditional open spaces in Alicante. It has spectacular lush vegetation including several hundred-year old rubber plants measuring 20 metres high. Gabriel Miró Square: This square honours the Alicante writer of the same name. Just a few metres from the Explanada and the seafront promenade, it has a monument in the form of a fountain and centenary trees with luxuriant foliage, creating a relaxed, pleasant atmosphere.

For panoramic views of the city, look no further than Elizabeth Fort. Built in the 17th century, the fort endured revolts, sieges, and civic unrest — it was even converted into a prison in 1835. This fortress is steeped in local history, and a portion of it is open for public tours.

The Mystic Lamb, or ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by the Van Eyck brothers, completed in 1432, is recognised worldwide as a great work of art, and one of the most influential paintings ever made. It is an absolute must-see on your weekend break to Ghent. A total of 18 panels form a magical evocation of scenes from the Bible, as well as a portrait of the church warden, Joos Vijd, who commissioned the altarpiece, and his wife Elisabeth Borluut. The monumental Mystic Lamb was painted on oak panels covered in thin layers of a mixture of chalk and animal glue. The figures were applied in several layers of oil paint. The combination of the painstaking work and transparent paint creates an extra dimension. Discover it for yourself as you stand in front of this masterpiece. You will see that an inner glow seems to radiate from the painting: the light of the divine. Hubert van Eyck painted part of the Ghent Altarpiece that includes the Mystic Lamb, but was never able to finish it. His younger brother Jan, an absolute master of the art of painting, is said to have finished this masterpiece a few years after Hubert’s death.

Considered Cork's oldest building, the Red Abbey Tower was once part of a 14th-century Augustinian abbey. Today, it is the only tower left standing but retains its red sandstone hue.