Alicante’s MARQ Museum is preparing to host one of the most important international exhibitions in its history with the arrival of Gold and the Universe: Indigenous Knowledge from Colombia, running until May 2027.

The exhibition will bring almost 300 artefacts from Colombia’s world-famous Museo del Oro to the Costa Blanca, including more than 150 pieces crafted from gold and tumbaga. It represents one of the largest loans of Colombian gold treasures to Spain in recent decades and offers visitors a rare opportunity to view objects that seldom leave their home country.

The collection explores how pre-Hispanic indigenous cultures viewed gold not as a symbol of wealth or status, but as a spiritual material closely connected to nature, balance and the cosmos. Through the exhibition, visitors will gain an insight into the beliefs, traditions and worldviews of the communities that created these remarkable pieces centuries ago.

A Journey Through History and Living Traditions

Visitors will experience a multi-sensory journey through three galleries at MARQ, combining archaeology, anthropology, sound and storytelling. Ancient ceremonial objects, intricate jewellery, human-animal figures and traditional ritual items will be displayed alongside music recreated from flutes more than 1,000 years old.

One of the exhibition’s most distinctive features is its connection between past and present. Alongside ancient artefacts, visitors will also see contemporary works created by indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon, highlighting traditions, skills and cultural practices that continue to survive today.

Museum officials believe the exhibition will offer a deeper understanding of indigenous knowledge and its relationship with the natural world, while also providing a unique cultural experience for visitors of all ages.

Following its run in Alicante, the exhibition will travel to Santiago de Compostela before continuing to Austria, further strengthening cultural ties between Spain and Colombia and bringing this extraordinary collection to an international audience.

For more information, visit marqalicante.com.

Orihuela is making it easier than ever for visitors to explore its rich history and culture, thanks to a series of new accessibility projects designed to remove barriers and improve the tourist experience.

One of the biggest additions is the installation of NaviLens technology at 50 tourist sites across Orihuela and Orihuela Costa. Using a smartphone, visitors can scan special codes to access information about monuments, museums and historic landmarks.

Unlike traditional QR codes, NaviLens can be detected from up to 15 metres away and without needing to point a camera directly at the code. The system is particularly useful for visually impaired visitors and can provide information in up to 36 languages, automatically adapting to the language settings on a user’s device.

The free NaviLens and NaviLens GO apps also offer multimedia content, simplified text and a range of accessibility features designed to make cultural information available to as many people as possible.

Alongside the digital improvements, Orihuela has installed 16 new information totems at some of its most important heritage sites, including the Cathedral, the Miguel Hernández House Museum, the Episcopal Palace, Teatro Circo and the famous San Isidro murals.

Each totem includes tactile relief elements that allow visually impaired visitors to explore architectural details through touch, creating a more inclusive way of discovering the city’s history and architectural heritage.

The projects form part of wider efforts to modernise Orihuela’s tourism offering while preserving and promoting the area’s cultural attractions for future generations.

Scooter Rollout Hits Turbulence

While Orihuela is receiving praise for improving accessibility, another recent initiative has faced a far more challenging start.

Electric scooter rentals have finally arrived in Orihuela Costa under the town hall’s new single-operator system, but the launch is already surrounded by controversy.

The service was originally expected to begin in December, with the full fleet deployed by January. However, the scooters only started appearing recently, around five months behind schedule.

According to the concession contract, delays of this type could qualify as a very serious breach, potentially leading to penalties or even cancellation of the agreement.

One of the main concerns involves the scooters themselves. Industry sources claim some of the vehicles currently operating in Orihuela Costa carry certification plates linked to international operator Bolt rather than Vamoz. Bolt, which also participated in the original tender process, is reportedly considering legal action.

There are also questions over whether the deployed fleet matches the specifications originally presented during the bidding process, including requirements relating to vehicle age and model type.

Municipal sources have attributed part of the delay to recent changes in DGT regulations concerning insurance and civil liability requirements for electric scooters.

Despite the controversy, the service was introduced to improve mobility in Orihuela Costa, where residents and tourists often rely on alternative forms of transport because of dispersed urbanisations and limited public transport connections.

How the situation develops in the coming weeks could prove significant, both for the operator and for local residents who have long called for better transport options across the coastal area.

Travellers from the Costa Blanca will soon be able to swap one Mediterranean coast for another as Wizz Air launches the first-ever direct flights between Alicante and Sicily.

The new route will connect Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport with Catania from 15 December, creating a year-round link between the Costa Blanca and the Italian island. The service is expected to appeal to both holidaymakers and business travellers looking for a convenient direct connection between the two destinations.

Enjoy Three Flights a Week

Flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

According to Wizz Air, flights will leave Catania at 2.40 PM and arrive in Alicante at 5.10 PM. The return service will depart Alicante at 5.55 PM, landing in Sicily at 8.10 PM.

The route will be operated using Airbus A321neo aircraft with a capacity for up to 239 passengers, offering travellers a modern and fuel-efficient aircraft for the journey.

A Growing Network from Alicante

The new service marks another expansion for Wizz Air at Alicante Airport, where the airline continues to strengthen its network of European destinations.

Catania becomes Wizz Air’s fourth Italian destination from Alicante, joining existing routes to Milan, Rome and Venice. The airline currently operates flights from Alicante to destinations across seven countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.

Boosting Tourism in Both Directions

The launch is also expected to boost tourism in both directions, offering Costa Blanca residents easier access to Sicily’s historic cities, beaches and renowned cuisine, while giving Sicilian travellers a direct gateway to Alicante and the wider Costa Blanca.

With demand for international travel continuing to grow, the new route provides another attractive option for passengers flying from Alicante and further strengthens the airport’s connections across Europe.

For more information and flight timetables, head to the Wizz Air website at wizzair.com.