Proudly spreading its majesty over mediterranean sea, rises on Mount Benacantil Santa Barbara Castle. It is located almost in the center of the famous Spanish resort of Alicante at an altitude of 166 m in close proximity to the sea. The fortress is the main tourist attraction in the city and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. And with her viewing platforms offers simply stunning views of the picturesque bay, the city and the port.
The first fortifications on the rock took place as early as the 3rd century BC, when the ancient Greeks founded their settlement here. And then this territory passed to the ancient Romans and then to the Iberians. And in the 9th century, the Moors (Muslims) began to build their citadel on this rock, and it already looked more or less close to the one that the castle has today. This citadel was the most important strategic point in those days and could control all the entrances to the city. From it you can see the entire bay, as well as nearby areas up to the mountains. attack these impregnable walls no one dared. But the castle dates back to the 13th century, when it received its present name and passed to the power of Christians. So, on December 4, 1248, namely on the Day of Saint Barbara, the future king Alfonso the Tenth, who bore the nickname the Wise and was then still Infante Alfonso of Castile, conquered this fortress from the Moors. Therefore, it was named after St. Barbara.
The castle was rebuilt many times over several centuries, it withstood several sieges and was bombarded by the British. The most serious reconstruction of the fortress took place in the Middle Ages. Among the most significant architectural parts of the castle stands out the Tower of Honor, the Chapel of St. Barbara, the English Bastion and the Queen's Bastion, the Hall of Philip II, the Governor's House. In addition, on the territory of the fortress there are cannon platforms and a powder warehouse, an underground prison, drawbridges, various residences and bastions. As for the cannons, on some of them you can see images of a double-headed eagle and Russian-language inscriptions. This indicates that, for sure, these guns were captured.
Currently various expositions are arranged in the castle premises. These are works of modern as well as ultra-modern art, graphics, exhibitions of avant-garde painting, photography, sculpture, intricate and bizarre installations.
To get to Santa Barbara Castle without difficulty, you should use a special elevator, in which the green arrow indicates the approximate location of the passage to it. The fare there and back is about 2.4 euros. The schedule needs to be updated. You can also get there by car, focusing on the roadway along the red arrow and leave vehicle(if there is, of course, a place) in a free small parking lot at the top. For lovers hiking it is also possible to get to the fortress. To do this, there are two pedestrian passages, indicated by blue and red arrows on the diagram.
Santa Barbara Castle opening hours:
Archaeological finds indicate that people began to settle in Benacantil in the Bronze Age. Also on the slopes found a lot of Roman, Iberian artifacts. The construction of full-fledged fortifications began only at the beginning of the 9th century, when the Iberian Peninsula was under the rule of the Arabs. In the XIII century, the castle was captured by the troops of Alphonse the Wise, who later became the king of Leon and Castile. The citadel passed to the Christians on the day of St. Barbara, after whom it got its name.
Already at the end of the century, the fortress was captured by Jaime II of Aragon, who began its expansion and reconstruction. The reconstruction of the castle continued under subsequent rulers: Pedro IV, Charles V and Philip II. At this time, most of the outbuildings and halls were erected, fortifications were improved. In 1691, the citadel was shelled by a French squadron; in the 18th century, it was held by the British for several years, participating in the War of Spanish Succession. After another 100 years, Santa Barbara withstood the fire of the Numancia frigate, captured by the rebels.
Starting from the 18th century, the fortress gradually lost its strategic importance and fell into disrepair. During the bloody Civil War, its walls were a prison for nationalists, and later for the defenders of the Second Republic. Until now, many inscriptions scratched by the doomed prisoners have been preserved. For a long time, the fortress of Santa Barbara remained abandoned. Only in 1963 it was recognized as a historical monument of national importance and restored. Since then, the citadel has been open to year-round tourists.
View from Santa Barbara Fortress
Legends of the ancient citadel
Several beautiful legends are connected with the fortress of Santa Barbara, passed from mouth to mouth. The first story refers to the period of the Moors and tells about tragic love. The Spanish nobleman Riccardo and the Muslim princess Zahara were inflamed with passion for each other. They met outside the castle under cover of night to hide the relationship from the girl's strict father. But the ruler had already promised to give his daughter as a wife to the Sultan of Damascus, and she was to be separated from her lover.
Upon learning of her father's plans, the princess fell seriously ill. The ruler learned about the cause of Zakhara's experiences and, seeing how she fades every day, decided to go for a trick. He promised to bless the unwanted marriage with a Christian if the earth turned white by morning. The princess prayed all night for a miracle, and it happened - blossoming orange trees completely covered the city with petals.
But the girl's father was not going to keep his word - on his orders, Riccardo was hanged before sunrise. The inconsolable girl threw herself off a cliff. Realizing the consequences of her deceit, her cruel father followed her. It is said that if you look at the mountain from the north, you can see the face of a grieving Moor in its stone outlines.
The second legend tells of the heroic deed of the commandant of the citadel, Nicholas Paris. In 1296, the garrison of the fortress of Santa Barbara tried to repel the attack of the army of Jaime II - the soldiers fought fiercely for every step. Last to die Nicholas, tightly clutching his sword in one hand and the keys to the main gate in the other. Even after death, his grip did not weaken, so the enemies could get the treasured bundle only by cutting off the brush.
The commandant was respected not only by allies, but also by opponents. The coat of arms is engraved with a hand clutching a key, and a monument was erected to Nicholas Paris inside the citadel. It is believed that Santa Barbara has never been captured in battle since then.
What to see
The fortress of Santa Barbara is located in the city center, within walking distance from the beach, so it is impossible to ignore this monument of ancient history. In summer, it is preferable to visit the sight in the morning or in the late afternoon, as it gets hot during the daytime. It is enough to allocate 2-3 hours for a visit, during which you will have time to go around all corners of the citadel, visit the museum and current expositions, have lunch in a cafe, and choose souvenirs.
To enjoy a walk through the fortress of Santa Barbara, it is not necessary to buy a tour - the history of the castle and the entire city of Alicante is presented here clearly. The building consists of three levels built in different eras. The earliest fortifications were built on the very top. At this level is the Watchtower, founded by the Moors. Medieval buildings have also survived here: the Hall of Fame, the English bastion, the Engineering Park. This site offers the most impressive view of the city and the sea, equally mesmerizing day and night.
At the middle level, fortifications from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance have been preserved. Here you will see the Bastion of the Queen, the Armory, the hall of Philip II, the ruins of the Church of St. Barbara, the residence of the governor. The lower building level dates back to the 18th century. Here are the first observation deck with a monument to the military leader Felix Berenguer and parking.
Fortress Santa Barbara has a large number of internal premises: barracks, dungeons, officer shelters, kitchens, ammunition depots. In the restored halls there are historical and modern expositions dedicated to military craft, culture, art (painting, photography, sculpture, installations). Museums on site are free to visit.
The Engineering Park remains the main venue for craft fairs. Armory Square is reserved for performances and performances, concerts, dance evenings. In the evening, performances of artists in national costumes take place on the territory of the fortress of Santa Barbara.
The performances are dedicated to ancient traditions and way of life. The actors speak only Spanish, but the event is a pleasure even without knowing the language thanks to the expressive intonations, colorful outfits of the participants. The most massive events take place at the foot of the mountain in Eret Park.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Santa Barbara Fortress.
- By elevator - the entrance is located at the foot of the mountain, opposite the Postiguet beach (Jovellanos Boulevard). It is easy to buy a ticket for it right there in the machine.
- By car - the entrance is from Vazquez de Mella via the north slope road. This path is absolutely free, parking is equipped on the first level of the fortress.
- With your feet - hiking route matches the car. It is chosen by tourists who want to enjoy the beauty of the ancient district of Alicante. Here you will see houses, some of which are considered the same age as the fortress. The rise from the city center takes about 10-15 minutes, allowing you to view the mountain from several angles.
Opening hours and address
The citadel is open to the public on all days, but the exact opening hours depend on the season:
- in winter (01.10-31.03) - from 10.00 to 20.00;
- in summer (01.04-30.09) - from 10.00 to 22.00.
On major event days, Santa Barbara Fortress is open until 11:45 pm. The MUSA City Museum welcomes visitors daily from 10.00 to 20.00 (break from 14.30 to 16.00).
The elevator has been operating since 1963, passing through a 205-meter tunnel cut into the mountain. Its mode of operation coincides with the schedule of the fortress. The last ascent is 40 minutes, the last descent - 20 minutes before closing. The cost of the lift ticket is 2.7 euros for adults. Senior citizens and children under 5 years old can ride for free. There is no additional charge for the descent.
Address: 03002, Alicante, plaza del Cuartel, 1.
Phone: (+34) 965 15 29 69.
Arriving in the Spanish Mediterranean resort city of Alicante, it is impossible not to visit the most famous historical landmark and cultural heritage countries - Fortress of Santa Barbara (Spanish name Castillo de Santa Barbara). Santa Barbara Castle is located in the center of Alicante, on top of Mount Benacantil or Benacantil (Mount Benacantil) at an altitude of 166 meters above sea level, within walking distance from the beach and other central attractions of the city. Tourists from all over the country and the world come to visit this fortress.
Castle Santa Barbara can rightly be called calling card Alicante, it can be seen from all corners of the city.
View of Mount Benacantil and Santa Barbara Castle
It is said that the Benacantil rock is shaped like a face. That is why the mountain is also called "the face of the Moor" (la cara del moro). True, we did not notice this similarity, no matter how hard we tried. However, it is precisely for this reason that the outline of the face is clearly visible on the coat of arms of the city. The Spaniards themselves attach such serious importance to the mountain and the castle on its top, they even reflected this fact on the coat of arms.
How to get to Santa Barbara Castle
Although the mountain seems tall, and the castle at its very top looks tiny and so far away, you can climb Mount Benacantil and walk to Santa Barbara Castle in just 10-15 minutes from the center of Alicante. There are lifts, both free and paid - on a high-speed elevator.
Paid high-speed elevator to Santa Barbara Fortress
The entrance to the high-speed elevator, where you can climb to the very top of the mountain in just one minute and get straight into the heart of Snata Barbara Castle, is located on Jovellanos Boulevard, opposite carrer de Jovellanos 1.
The elevator ride is paid, the cost is 2.70 Euro per person. Payment through the terminal. Children under 4 years old and people over 65 years old enter for free.
The paid elevator operates daily: from 10:00 to 19:45. From 19:45 to 23:10, you can go up and down the elevator for free. From 11:10 pm to 11:30 pm, the elevator operates only for descent, also free of charge.
This is the only thing you have to pay for, apart from souvenirs and cafes, if you want to buy something or eat. Everything else in the castle: inspection, exhibitions, museums - are free.
Free climb to Santa Barbara Fortress
You can climb Mount Benacantil and go to the fortress of Santa Barbara for free. The rise takes only 10-20 minutes, after. Santa Cruz is the oldest district of the city, which has preserved the way of life of medieval Spain, a very picturesque place, we advise you to take a walk.
In the evening, when it gets dark, from the observation decks of the fortress there is an equally impressive panorama of the city and the coast, if not more beautiful than the daytime…
Why is the fortress called Santa Barbara! Interesting?
Based on history, on December 4, 1248, on the day of Saint Barbara (Barbara), Prince Alfonso of Castile, the future King Alfonso X the Wise, with pressure and heroic courage won the bastions from the Arabs. It was in honor of the day of St. Barbara, on which the capture of the citadel fell, that the Fortress was named Santa Barbara.
The name of the fortress also corresponds to the Santa Barbara TV series of the same name. Remember this one? The longest series in the world, the development of which was closely followed by our grandmothers and mothers.
History of Fortress Santa Barbara
After the conquest of the castle by King Alfonso, in 1296 King James II of Aragon again captured the fortress, while meeting and subduing fierce resistance. A detachment of defenders, led by the brave commandant of the fortress Nicholas Paris, defended every inch of the castle as best they could, but it still did not help them. According to legend, Nicholas Paris died clutching his sword in one hand and the keys to the fortress in the other. The enemies only got the keys when they cut off his hand. The commandant, by his heroic deed and courage, earned the recognition not only of his compatriots, but also of his enemies. On the very high point Fortress him erected a monument of honor and glory. Also on the coat of arms of the fortress there is a corresponding historical event symbol - a hand clutching the keys to the gate, as a sign of the stamina of its defenders.
In 1691, the fortress of Santa Barbara was bombarded by the French squadron. And during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701-1714, it was held by the British for three years.
In 1873, the castle of Santa Barbara, along with the city, was shelled by Spanish rebels from the frigate Numancia.
From the beginning of the eighteenth century, the fortress gradually lost its military significance and its buildings began to be used as a prison. So she remained in a semi-abandoned state until 1963, until, after restoration, she was open to public visits. We can see the walls and the territory of the fortress, restored and close to the age-old history, at the present time. To this day, the castle is regularly restored and maintained in good condition.
Let me tell you about our holiday in Alicante. Somehow we planned a wonderful trip. From Kaliningrad by car we went to Zakopane, after living there for a week, we went to Krakow, having rested in Krakow for three days, we flew to Spain. And in Spain, we divided the rest like this: a week in Alicante (with a trip to Elche), a week in Benidorm (with a trip to Valencia).
Alicante is a port city located on the Costa Blanca. It's not far from the airport, about 20 minutes. The city is in many ways typical Spanish))) Clean and well-groomed.
We lived in an apart-hotel, we had a room with a kitchen, so we often cooked ourselves. Products, as usual in Spain, we bought the Mercadona supermarket, it was located in the city center not far from the coast and our hotel. When using a plastic card, we were almost always asked for an identity document (we showed a driver's license), and once, without malicious intent, we caused a collapse in the store))) Having collected products for 35 euros, we provided a banknote of 500 euros for payment, we just didn't have any other money with us. We collected change at all the cash desks, and we must pay tribute to the employees: they did not lose their temper and did not send us to hell))) We really like Mercadona with its choice of products, especially seafood and fruits, and there is just a lot of new ... more which is not available in our stores. Pay attention to what they take locals, they know better what products are worthy of their meals))) Separately, I will say about wine. As we were once told on an excursion during our first visit to Spain: do not be afraid to buy inexpensive Spanish wine in stores - it is young and it flows like water here, therefore it does not cost a lot of money.
Pay attention to the pineapple I posted. Here in this convenient form we bought it in Mercadona (well, probably, these are sold not only in this store). It is cleaned, it was given a cylindrical shape with a hole, packed in dense polyethylene (not photographed), the expiration date is a day. Wonderful - I bought it, quickly cut it, ate it.)))
Do you know that it is not customary for Spaniards to say "bon appetit", because they always have a good appetite anyway?))) In Spain they say "buen provecho" - good assimilation))))
Buildings in Alicante are dense, not all hotels have their own parking, or there is parking, but it is very small and insufficient for all guests. In the city center there is a multi-storey paid large parking lot, with which some hotels enter into an agreement, giving you the opportunity to leave your car there (we rented it at the airport). From this parking lot, of course, you will need to walk to the hotel, but for us this path took 5-7 minutes.
The city's beaches are wide and clean. We went mainly to the main city beach of Postiguet, I’ll tell you more about it. A flag of the corresponding color is always placed on the beach: green - you can swim; yellow - in general, you can swim, but do not forget that the sea is worried; red - swimming is prohibited. There are lifeguards on the tower, and if you decide to swim with a forbidding signal, they will come for you.))) Maybe they will even come, but this is not certain)))). The beach has a small playground and lonely, rare palm trees. You can hide from the heat under a palm tree, but most often you have already been overtaken and there is someone under it.))) Periodically, an uncle from a beach cafe will pass you along the beach with a tray and an offer to buy cool sangria in a plastic glass or chopped fruit. Walking dogs on the beach is prohibited. The sea is pleasant, clean, beautiful with a soft entry into the water, we liked everything very much.
And this device is like an underpass, but only above the ground. Elevated crossing.))) You can get to the beach anyway. Well, or just from the city on pedestrian crossings))). What's more, note that there is an elevator near this overpass, well thought out if you don't want to or can't take the stairs.
Alicante has a good wide promenade, walks along which give visual pleasure and saturation with sea air. Along the embankment there are shopping malls with souvenirs, local sweets, beach towels, benches, and exercise equipment. Sometimes a stage is opened here and chairs are set up, arranging small concerts.
The castle-fortress of Santa Barbara on Mount Benacantil deserves special attention in Alicante. This is one of the largest medieval fortresses Spain. The entrance to the fortress itself is free, but you need to walk to it, if you wish, you can use the elevator. We took advantage.
The fortress offers a wonderful, magnificent, bewitching view of the sea, Alicante and its surroundings.
The fortress of Santa Barbara was completed, destroyed in places during the wars, completed again ... It's interesting there, you go to different levels ... and you want higher, higher) Everywhere there are arches, paths, steps, rooms ... Many trees, shrubs, you can meet pigeons, among which there are many white ones. There is a cafe, a souvenir shop and a toilet.
In Alicante, like many places in Europe, you can walk through the narrow streets, admire the historic center, ancient basilicas, refresh yourself by sitting on a bench near the fountain. For me personally, it is very important that the rest is not limited to the beach.
Fortress Santa Barbara (Spain) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
- Hot tours to Spain
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
Previous photo Next photo
One of the largest medieval fortifications in Spain - the fortress of Santa Barbara - stands on the slopes and top of Mount Benacantil, not so high - at an altitude of 166 m. But it is almost impossible to convince astonished tourists of this. The monumental fortress is visible from any side street of Alicante and serves as an excellent landmark, and its upper platform still fulfills its long-standing purpose - it opens up a panoramic view of the surroundings.
Story
Mount Benacantil began to be inhabited already in the Bronze Age - as evidenced by the finds of archaeologists, and strategically strengthened - in the 9th century, during the period of Arab rule. In the middle of the 13th century, Christians conquered Santo Barbara. It happened on the day of St. Barbara, hence its name. At the end of the century, new walls and towers were erected in the fortress, after 300 years - the main halls and utility blocks. In the 17th century, the fortress was shelled by the French squadron, in the 18th century, during the War of the Spanish Succession, it suffered from the British. After 100 years, the fortification withstood the volleys of the rebellious Spanish battleship, then lost its defensive value, replacing it with a forced one - Santa Barbara turned into a prison. And then it was completely abandoned for a long time. Only in 1963 it was reconstructed and given to tourists without a fight.
What to see
The fortress has three levels representing different eras. It is better to inspect them in the summer in the morning or evening hours - it is too hot during the day. Moving up and down the paved paths, getting into narrow passages, passing through stone arches, looking into niches and shelters, one wonders how everything is thought out here.
On the uppermost esplanade, known as the buttress of the castle, is the Watchtower of Moorish times. A little lower, medieval buildings survived: the hall of fame, the governor's house and the English bastion. The loopholes have preserved cast-iron cannons.
At the middle level - buildings of the 16th century. This is a military building with a museum of torture inside, main tower fortresses, water tanks, Armory Square, the ruins of the chapel of St. Barbara, the queen's bastion hanging over the cliff. A little lower is an underground dungeon and a platform with ancient wall and siege weapons. On the lower level are the first observation platform and parking.
There are many internal premises on the territory of the fortress: barracks for soldiers, ammunition depots, shelters for officers, kitchens. Several of them housed the Museum of the History of Alicante with expositions of bas-reliefs, heraldry, busts of famous Spaniards and antique dishes.
Santa Barbara today is not only historical Museum. It hosts exhibitions of sculpture, modern graphics, avant-garde painting, photography and other bizarre installations. Craft fairs are held in the Engineering Park. Armory Square hosts concerts, theatrical performances, performances for children and dance evenings.
Practical Information
Address: Alicante, Av de Juan Bautista Lafora, 6.
Opening hours: April 1-September 30: from 10:00 to 22:00, October 1-March 31: from 10:00 to 20:00. Free admission.
