The castle of Santa Barbara is one of the most famous and imposing sights, not just in the city of Alicante, but in the whole of Spain. It stands atop the summit of the near sheer rock face of Mount Benacantil, a rocky mass which reaches a height of over 166m.
This incredible attraction, which is free of charge to enter, only gets better in the summer when, as well as being able to take in breathtakingly far reaching views of the bay, beaches and marina, you can also feast on the food of love, the nourishing and elegant music from the concerts that are held in the castle’s courtyards at night.
These concerts, which offer an incredible opportunity to experience something truly unique, normally occur at the weekends, with a start time of 10pm in the evening, a gorgeous, twilight time of day, when the heat of the passing day seems to dissipate on the cool sea breeze, wrapping itself around everything like a soothing balm.
When you are stood in its all engulfing shadow, the idea of climbing the castle can seem a little intimidating, especially if you are having a little trouble contending with the fierce Mediterranean sun and are fearful of dehydration. Fortunately, as well as being accessible by footpath and road (a much easier option which makes the prospect of car hire in Alicante even more attractive!) there are also lifts you can take to the top once you get there.
The castle dates way back to the 9th century, when the region was under Arabic control. The castle has, over the years, been the sight of many vicious battles. In 1248 it was taken by Castillian forces, lead by the man who would go on to be King Alfonso X. He gave castle it name in honour of the saint, as the feast celebrating her miraculous life fell on the very day of the castles capture, December 4th.
The castle changed many hands over the centuries and has, at various points, been under the control of the French and the English. However, the role of the castle as a focal point for military actions declined from the 18th Century onwards and, until 1963 when it was made open to the public, the site was being used as a state prison.
The castle is well worth a visit, even if you’re not staying in Alicante. For example, if you are touring the country starting in another location and renting a car, this would be an ideal place to visit having sorted out car hire in Malaga.