Perched on Mount Benacantil, a 166-metre rocky promontory overlooking the sea, the Santa Barbara Castle dominates the city of Alicante and is one of its symbols.
This monumental fortress is in itself beautiful to visit, but it is above all the best place to enjoy a splendid panoramic view over the bay of Alicante and the city.
Climb the steps to the top and enjoy the timeless atmosphere of this magical place.
You will be dazzled by the azure-blue colour of the sea waters and perhaps be struck by Cupid’s arrows at sunset: if you are not feeling romantic, you might still feel a little nostalgic. You will certainly be enchanted and never want to leave.
Don’t forget your camera at home!
Curiosities
From the Playa de Postiguet, it is possible to see the shape of a human face in the mountain on which the castle rests, known as ‘the Moor’s Cara’. This is one of the most emblematic images of the city of Alicante.
The Santa Barbara Castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. It is composed of three distinct levels, all built on the Benacantil mountain but at different times:
The castle was opened to the public in 1963, after years of total abandonment. In the same year, a lift was inaugurated that takes visitors to the top of the castle, travelling 142.70 metres inside the mountain and accessed through a 204.83 metre-long tunnel.
Today, the castle appears perfectly preserved and is one of the city’s main attractions, suitable for adults and children.
You can spend hours poking around the towers, ruins, tunnels, cannons and elegant rooms, but the highlight of your visit will surely be when you stand on the cliff and admire the breathtaking view. You’ll feel a real plunge in your heart! (forbidden for those suffering from vertigo).
Some rooms of the Santa Barbara Castle house the Musa (Alicante City Museum), a permanent exhibition that traces the history of the city of Alicante. It consists of four parts:
Today it houses the visitors’ centre. You can take a look at the archaeological finds and a short film about the city’s history, but the most interesting thing is undoubtedly the glass floor with figures referring to historical events.
This houses the permanent exhibition ‘Alicante bathed by the sea‘, which explores the city’s indissoluble relationship with the Mediterranean, a relationship steeped in history and culture.
The exhibition ‘History and People’ is dedicated to the inhabitants of Alicante: here you will discover the most common surnames and professions in the different historical periods, as well as historical artefacts and photographs.
The ‘Mine Explosion‘ exhibition retraces the tragic events that led to the explosion of a mine during the War of Succession in the period 1701 – 1713; a metal sculpture entitled ‘The Spider’s Web‘ is on display in the main room, while in another room you can find out more about the attacks suffered by the city over the centuries.
Admission to Santa Barbara Castle is free of charge, but those who wish can participate in two different guided tours:
Events are frequently organised inside the castle and the rooms can be rented for weddings, birthdays, corporate or private events: an exclusive location for unforgettable evenings!
A cafeteria is open daily where you can enjoy a hearty breakfast with a sea view or have a snack during the day.
The Santa Barbara Castle is located in the centre of Alicante and is easily accessible on foot or by car.
There are several access points: those arriving on foot can take the paid lift in Av. Juan Bautista Lafora, in front of the Playa del Postiguet, go up along the walls or cross Parque de Ereta and walk along calle Vázquez de Mella (the latter is the access route for cars).
The ascent on foot takes about an hour, but it is a stupendous walk along a path with truly impressive views. The walk itself is a wonderful experience, plus you will be amply rewarded for this effort by the marvellous view you can enjoy once at the top.
The Santa Barbara Castle is located on top of a hill that stretches about 1 square kilometre east of the centre of Alicante, on top of which there are no facilities where you can sleep. Therefore, unfortunately, you will not be able to wake up in the morning, take a walk and be inside the castle. But don’t worry, there are plenty of alternatives.
For a start, you could take advantage of one of the many lodgings in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, or Barri Vell, the historical quarter that lies on the side of the hill, from which you can walk uphill to the castle in about 15 minutes and 80 metres. The alternative for the lazy is to sleep near the lift to the castle, which is located between the Playa del Postiguet and the basilica of Santa Maria. Sleeping here also has the advantage of being very close to the sea!
The Santa Barbara castle dominates the coastline of Alicante: it is located on the Benacantil hill, east of the centre and Barri Vell.
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