Castillo de Santa Bárbara

The Castillo de Santa Bárbara crowns Monte Benacantil, 167 metres above the sea, overlooking the whole bay of Alicante. Its origins go back to the late 9th century, under Muslim rule, though the current name comes from 4 December 1248, the feast of Saint Barbara, the day Prince Alfonso of Castile took the fortress from its Arab defenders.

Three centuries in three levels

The complex is organised into three sections, each from a different era. The upper part, La Torreta, holds the oldest remains, from the 11th to 13th centuries, including the Torre del Homenaje. The middle section was completed between 1562 and 1580 under Juan Coloma y Cardona and engineers Juan Bautista Antonelli and Giacomo Palearo, and includes the Hall of Philip II and the Weapons Courtyard. The lower section adds 18th-century construction, including the Revellín del Bon Repós, built to strengthen the defences against a possible naval attack.

For much of the 20th century the castle lost its military role; it even served as a concentration camp until late 1939, before opening to the public in 1963, the same year lifts were installed that now carry visitors up from Postiguet beach without the climb up the hillside. It's also possible to walk up from the Santa Cruz district, though the climb is steep, so the lift is the more comfortable option with children or limited mobility. From the ramparts, the 360-degree view takes in the harbour, the Explanada de España and, on clear days, the island of Tabarca.