The Roman Ruins at Lucentum

Credit: Hispa / CC BY-SA 3.0

The past of the Roman ruins at Lucentum has made Alicante what it is today. Prior to being named Lucentum, Alicante in Greek times was known as Akra Leuka or 'white peak'. After the arrival of the Romans, the city was renamed to Lucentum and later Alacant by the Arabs. The 'Lucentum Archaeological Site' refers to the roots of ancient Alicante in which a typical Roman city prospered and flourished. The earliest people to have settled at Lucentum date back around 220 BC. As civilizations came and went, the excavation findings are reminiscent of succeeding settlements by the Muslim and Greek rulers.