It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 332,067, estimated as of 2014, ranking as the second-largest Valencian city. Including nearby municipalities, the Alicante conurbation had 452,462 residents.The population of the metropolitan area (including Elche and satellite towns) was 757,085 as of 2014 estimates, ranking as the eighth-largest metropolitan area of Spain.he area around Alicante has been inhabited for over 7000 years. The first tribes of hunter gatherers moved down gradually from Central Europe between 5000 and 3000 BC. Some of the earliest settlements were made on the slopes of Mount Benacantil.