Cementerio del Castillo

On the uppermost terrace of the Castillo de San José, right against what remains of its wall, sits one of the most scenic cemeteries in Alicante province. It stands at nearly 600 metres above sea level, at the highest point of Guadalest, where a lack of space forced the town to place its burial ground inside the fortress itself rather than on the outskirts, as was more usual. Burial grounds built directly into an active fortress are uncommon on this stretch of coast, which is part of why this small cemetery draws almost as much attention as the castle ruins around it.

A viewpoint among gravestones

From its terraces you look out over the whole valley: the Sierra de Aitana in the distance, terraced hillsides below, and further down, the turquoise colour of the Guadalest reservoir. It is a striking contrast — centuries-old graves suspended above a landscape that draws thousands of visitors every year — and one reason the short climb to the castle rewards a slower pace than most people give it.

Access to the cemetery is included in the paid ticket for the Castillo de San José, reached along the same path that climbs from Casa Orduña, after passing through the Portal de San José. Seeing it takes only a few minutes, but it is worth saving for the top of the climb, once the steepest steps are behind you and the reward is this 360-degree view over the sierra and the water.