Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo de Santa Bárbara) watches over the resort city of Alicante from a height of 166 metres. This building over the Costa Blanca coast is one of the biggest Medieval fortifications in modern Spain.

The fortification on Mount Benacantil was built circa the 9th century when the Iberian Peninsula was under Arab rule.

Four centuries later, when the Mauretanian era was succeeded by the Reconquista, the castle was captured by forces led by Alfonso of Castile, who soon became the king of Castille and Leon. On December 4, 1248, the day when Alfonso took over the fortress, Christendom pays tribute to the memory of Saint Barbara, in whose honour the fortification was named Santa Barbara.

The Castle can be seen clearly from far away, but the views from Santa Bárbara itself are even more magnificent. The building is located on a hill and consists of three levels differing in their height, this structure allows for a wonderful view of the modern city and sea.

Over the centuries of its existence, Santa Barbara Castle has seen many owners and gone through major reconstructions and changes. Its battle history is evident in many parts of the buildings: there are former barracks, a shelter for giving out orders, weaponry and munitions storage, kitchens. The architectural appearance of the Castle is formed by an armoury, military and sentry corps, the hall of Philip II, the Queen’s bastion. The Castles interiors are dominated by Medieval designs, it is easy to get transported back in time, at least visually. In some chambers, there are The Museum of Alicante City’s exhibitions, where one can find artefacts from different eras: from ancient kitchenware to heraldic elements, bas-reliefs, and busts of famous people associated with this region. The tour of the Castle would take 1.5-2 hours.

The easiest way to get to the top of Mount Benacantil is to use a lift (it doesn’t cost much but saves a lot of time and energy). It can be accessed from the city’s Postiguet Beach. However, if time and physical health allow, one can climb the Mount by stairs.