Visitors can now explore Alicante as it looked in the 19th century. A new exhibition brings together 65 historical photographs, engravings and documents, showing the city’s streets, squares and waterfront during a period of major change.
One highlight is the earliest panoramic photograph of Alicante, taken in 1858. The wide-angle view offers a rare glimpse of the city while it underwent significant transformation.
Explore Alicante’s 19th century exhibition
Titled “A Vision of Alicante in the 19th Century,” the exhibition is visible both outdoors, through the windows of the building on Calle Labradores, and inside. It remains open until May, giving visitors several months to enjoy this visual journey.
The exhibition documents key moments in Alicante’s history. In 1858, Queen Isabella II visited the city to inaugurate the Madrid-Alicante railway line. Photographer Jean Laurent accompanied the Queen and captured what is now Alicante’s first panoramic image. The photograph shows the seafront with Santa Bárbara Castle in the background.
Everyday life and city landmarks
Visitors can also see scenes of daily life in Plaza Gabriel Miró and La Montañeta. The exhibition includes the unveiling of the statue dedicated to Eleuterio Maisonnave. Historic views of the Postiguet and Explanada bathing areas feature alongside an engraving of the current Avenida Maisonnave, then Alameda de San Francisco, with the railway station visible in the background. Many scenes appear almost unrecognisable today.
Alicante’s Councillor for Culture, Nayma Beldjilali, explained that the exhibition “takes us back nearly two centuries and helps us understand how the city has evolved,” especially around landmarks such as City Hall, Santa Bárbara Castle and the Port.
A window into the city’s evolution
The councillor highlighted striking images of the former Paseo de la Reina (now Rambla Méndez Núñez), wine barrels stacked in the port awaiting export, the nearly empty Avenida Doctor Gadea, and the city’s first panoramic waterfront photograph.
According to the councillor, the exhibition offers a compelling visual record. It will surprise both residents and visitors, revealing just how dramatically Alicante has changed over time.
