Parc de l'Ereta

Parque de la Ereta covers the slope of Monte Benacantil, right below Castillo de Santa Bárbara, and was built to solve a specific problem: how to link the old quarter to the fortress on foot without relying on the lift or the access road. The project was designed by French architects Marc Bigarnet and Frédéric Bonnet, winners of the 1994 Europan 3 competition, and the park opened in 2003 after work to landscape the hillside. It covers close to seven hectares laid out in stepped terraces, an approach that works with the natural slope of the hill rather than flattening it.

The design goes for a deliberately wild look: native Mediterranean planting, stone paths shaded by trees, drinking fountains, and an old threshing ground converted into a flat central space now used for open-air performances. A kiosk with a pergola and a multi-purpose classroom round out a route meant as much for a long stop with a view as for walking through.

Viewpoints over the city

What sets the Ereta apart from other parks in Alicante is its string of viewpoints at different heights on the slope, looking over the harbour, the Barrio de Santa Cruz and the Mediterranean; several of them feature in the guide to the best viewpoints near Alicante. The park also works as a pedestrian route up to the castle, a quieter alternative to climbing straight from the old town, and it connects well with a walk down toward Parque El Palmeral on the other side of the city.