As any golf enthusiast will probably be aware, the Costa Blanca is ideal for a holiday combining sun, sea and nightlife with your favourite sport. With an abundance of flights to Alicante airport, where better to base yourself? There are over 20 excellent golf courses in the Valencia region with two, El Plantio and Alicante Golf, just a short drive from the city.

But what of your travel companions who may not share your golfing passion? Luckily, as a historic city by the sea, Alicante also comes up trumps for sight-seeing.

Remains have been discovered indicating that Alicante was first settled 7000 years ago. Since those times it has had a vast and varied history of battles, conquests and more battles from a dizzying array of invaders including Greeks, Phoenicians, Goths, then the Moors, until the Castillians took possession in the 13th century. Consequently there is a wealth of interesting sights, museums and galleries to visit.

Not to be missed is the Museum of Fine Arts located in the magnificent 18th century Palicio Gravina which features a permanent collection of over 500 works by major artists from the 16th to 20th century. Ranked equally highly is the city's Museum of Archeology, MARQ, an astonishing exposition whose approach to the subject won it the European Museum of the year award in 2004.

Another must-see are the huge water wells excavated through the rocks of Mount Benacantil during Alicante's Islamic period. These were created in ancient times to collect and store rain water. Here you will also find a small ceramics museum.

Other ancient structures and buildings include the Basilica of Santa Maria which was built in gothic style over the site of a mosque, as was the Cathedral of St Nicholas of Bari. Intriguing also are the defence towers of Huerta de Alicante. They were built around the Alicante area during the 15th to 18th centuries to ward off attacks from Barbary pirates. In fact, just a few kilometres offshore, lies Tabarca Island in the Mediterranean. Now a beautiful tourist attraction, it was once a base for the pirates to launch their attacks on the city.

These are just some of the highlights of Alicante, not forgetting the the fabulous beaches, bars and restaurants to keep everyone happy all the time.