# Timeline of Alicante

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Alicante, Spain.

## Prior to 20th century

* 718 – Moors in power.
* 1240 – Valencian moor Zayyan ibn Mardanix [ca] became governor (rais) of Laqant, until he departed to exile in 1247.
* 1247 – Castle of Alacant is defended by Valencian moor al-Azraq.
* 1252 – Owned by Alfonso X.
* 1265 – Colonized mainly by Catalan population during an ongoing military campaign led by James I of Aragon. Catalan became traditional language in Alicante since then until nowadays.
* 1296/1304 – Alicante becomes part of the Kingdom of Valencia per Treaty of Torrellas.
* 1331 – Attempted siege of Alicante by Moorish forces.
* 1490 – Given the status of a town by Ferdinand II.
* 1662 – San Nicolás de Bari church built.
* 1709 – Siege of Alicante by French forces.
* 1780 – Alicante City Hall [ca] built (approximate date).
* 1785 – Consulado (merchant guild) established.
* 1797 – Population: 20,000.
* 1822 – Diputación Provincial de Alicante [es] (governing body) established.
* 1834 – Alicante Sociedad Económica de los Amigos del País established.
* 1842 – Population: 19,021.
* 1847 – Teatro Principal (Alicante) [es] (theatre) built.
* 1855 – Public library established.
* 1858 – Madrid-Alicante railway begins operating.
* 1860 – Walls of Alicante [es] dismantling begins.
* 1873 – Siege of Alicante (1873) [es] by Federalists of Cartagena.
* 1885 – Murcia-Alicante railway built.
* 1886 – Parque de Canalejas [es] (park) created.
* 1888 – Plaza de toros de Alicante [es] (bullring) built.
* 1900
** Palacio de Justicia de Alicante [es] (courthouse) built.
** Population: 50,142.

## 20th century

* 1902 – Alicante anthem [es] composed by Juan Latorre Baeza [es].
* 1906 – Diario de Alicante [es] newspaper begins publication.
* 1913 – El Luchador (Alicante) [es] newspaper begins publication.
* 1919 – Club Natación Alicante (football club) formed.
* 1921 – Mercado Central de Alicante [es] built on Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio [es].
* 1922 – Hércules CF (football club) active.
* 1924 – Cine Monumental (cinema) built.
* 1925
** Cementerio de Alicante [es] (cemetery) established.
** Florida Alta [es] barrio developed.
* 1930
** Fountain installed in the Plaza de los Luceros [es].
** Population: 73,071.
* 1931
** 12 April: Municipal election held.
** Palacio Provincial de Alicante [es] built.
* 1932 – Archaeological Museum of Alicante opens.
* 1938 – 25 May: Bombing of Alicante during the Spanish Civil War.
* 1939
** Campo de concentración de Los Almendros [es] (detention camp) created.
** 30 March: Italian forces take city from the Republicans.
* 1941 – Diario Información [es] newspaper begins publication.
* 1947 – Banco de España building (Alicante) [es] constructed.
* 1950 – Population: 104,222.
* 1956 – Hospital General Universitario de Alicante [es] built.
* 1959 – Roman Catholic Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante active.
* 1962 – Estudiotel Alicante high-rise built.
* 1963 – El Barco high-rise built in Albufereta [es] barrio.
* 1967 – El Altet Airport opens.
* 1968 – Alicante railway station rebuilt.
* 1971 – Gran Sol hi-rise built on the Rambla de Méndez Núñez [es].
* 1974
** Archivo Histórico Provincial de Alicante [es] (archives) established.
** Estadio José Rico Pérez (stadium) opens.
* 1977 – Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art opens.
* 1979
** University of Alicante established.
** Estadio Alicante CF [es] (stadium) opens.
* 1981 – Population: 251,387.
* 1982 – Part of 1982 FIFA World Cup football contest held in Alicante.
* 1983 – Biblioteca Pública Azorín de Alicante (library) active.
* 1985 – Festival de Música Contemporánea de Alicante [es] begins.
* 1993 – Muestra de Teatro Español de Autores Contemporáneos [es] (theatre festival) begins.
* 1999 – Alicante Tram begins operating.

## 21st century

* 2001
** European Union Intellectual Property Office headquartered in Alicante.
** Gravina Museum of Fine Arts established.
* 2004 – Festival de Cine de Alicante [es] begins.
* 2005 – Film studio Ciudad de la Luz begins operating.
* 2009 – Alicante Innovation and Territory regional development plan published.
* 2011
** Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante [es] (concert hall) built.
** Population: 329,325.
* 2014 – Population: 332,067 city; 757,085 metro [es].
* 2015 – Gabriel Echávarri [es] becomes mayor.