Alicante Photography Workshop – Light, Colour & Culture in Spain

After the success of my first Spanish workshop in Malaga, this second instalment in the series took us further along the coast to the vibrant and endlessly photogenic city of Alicante. (If you missed it, you can read the Malaga review here.)

This time, I was joined once again by a brilliant group, Terry, Pauline, David, Luise and Sandra, all setting off together from Teesside International Airport on a late afternoon flight. There’s something about flying from your local airport that just sets the tone for the trip, no stress, no long transfers, just straight into the adventure. By the time we landed in the evening, checked in, and grabbed a quick drink, the anticipation for the days ahead was already building.

Our hotel was perfectly placed, just one street back from the iconic Explanada de España and the harbour, sitting right between the old and new towns. It meant everything was within walking distance, which is exactly what you want on a photography workshop.

Day One — Harbour Light & Old Town Colour

We started early with a dawn shoot along the harbour. The light was soft, the sea calm, and Alicante slowly came to life around us. It’s always one of my favourite times to shoot,when the city hasn’t quite woken up yet.

Afterwards, we found a great local café for breakfast before checking out the fabulous indoor market (always fun when travelling in a new city) and then wandering into the old town. Alicante is packed with visual gems, narrow streets, textured walls, and bursts of colour everywhere you look. Highlights included the famous “blue pot house,” the striking Basilica of St Mary Alicante, and the contemporary contrasts of the MACA Contemporary Art Museum.

We paused for tapas in a lively square, soundtracked by live music, before heading towards the seafront for sunset near the Explanada. 

Dinner that evening was at Bellaterra on Carrer San Francisco, better known locally as Mushroom Street thanks to its quirky installations. Great service, fantastic food, and a nice shared experience right in the heart of the city was a great way to end a productive day.

Day Two — Coastal Colour & Unexpected Moments

We’d scouted a harbour viewpoint the night before in the hope of catching a decent sunrise looking towards Castillo de Santa Bárbara, and it absolutely paid off, especially for David, who captured a dramatic, cloud-filled image that really stood out.

After breakfast, we jumped on the tram along the coast to Villajoyosa, a place famous for its colourful houses lining the seafront. 

We explored the streets, stopping at a cool little spot I’d found online called La Placeta, its walls covered in vintage bullfighting posters and memorabilia. One of those places with real character, full of locals chatting away. 

From there, we made our way down to the shoreline where the group had a great time capturing colour, texture, and even a bit of graffiti along the promenade.

Back in Alicante, we opted for something different at sunset, shooting along the marina before heading for dinner at Mareando La Huerta. A vegan restaurant might not have been everyone’s first choice on paper—but once the food arrived, that quickly changed. It was exceptional. Definitely one to recommend.

The night didn’t end there. While the others turned in, Terry, David and I headed out for “just one more” at El Refugio Arte y Utopías. It looked lively, the music was great—Dire Straits, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix—so in we went.

What we didn’t realise was that it was open mic poetry night.

One minute we’re having a quiet beer, the next someone’s on stage reciting poetry in Spanish. A couple of drinks later—and feeling slightly braver than usual—I found myself doing the same, reading a short poem in Spanish with a little help from Google Translate. Not something I expected to do on a workshop, but that’s the beauty of these trips—unexpected moments that become lasting memories.

Day Three — Palms, Processions & The Beautiful Game

Our final full day took us inland by train to Elche, known as the palm capital of the world. Timing-wise, we couldn’t have planned it better. It was the day before Palm Sunday, and Semana Santa was just beginning.

Elche is one of the cleanest, most beautiful cities you’ll visit. We walked through the incredible Palmeral of Elche, a UNESCO-listed palm grove, before heading towards the historic centre and the square beside the blue-domed Basilica of Santa Maria Elche.

Lunch at Basilica Brunch & Cocktails was perfectly placed, overlooking the square. From there, we wandered to Plaça de Baix, where a bustling palm market was in full swing.

Palm Sunday in Spain carries a strong tradition, families buy intricately woven palm leaves to take part in religious processions the following day. It added another layer to the experience with culture, tradition, and real, everyday life unfolding around us. 

Back in Alicante, the group took some well-earned downtime while I set off on a personal mission, walking out to Hércules CF’s football stadium. It’s part of an ongoing personal project of mine (The Beautiful Game), where my love of football and photography come together.

It was a long walk, but worth it.

We regrouped in the evening and made our way up to Castillo de Santa Bárbara via the lift, just in time for sunset. Looking out over the city we’d spent days exploring felt like the perfect way to wrap things up.

Alicante delivered everything you could want from a workshop titled light, colour, culture. Spain always does.

And being able to fly directly from Teesside International Airport makes it all the better.

Plans for the next Spanish adventure are already in motion… and I can’t wait to return. If you woukd like to join me keep an eye on the website for updates.