Santa Barbara Castle Alicante (Castillo Santa Barbara,), Costs Blanca, Spain. Introduction
Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo Santa Barbara), looking from the sea ward side of the town
- FREE entrance to the castle. There is a charge to use the lift from the sea front road
- The enormous Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo Santa Barbara) is located on the 165m high cliffs of Mount (Mont) Benacanil just behind Alicante's sea front esplanade.
- The castle is one of the largest mediaeval fortresses in Spain.
- It houses Alicante's Museum located in 5 of the fortresses buildings
- Spectacular views of Alicante and the surrounding countryside can be seen from the castle ramparts.
- Although this mighty castle perched as it is, on top of a mountain with sheer sides looks impregnable it was defeated on several occasions. When the British had control of the castle they were defeated by the Spanish who dug a cave into the mountain side, filled it with gunpowder and lit the fuse, blasting the mountain apart and a good proportion of the castle with it.
- Old drawings of the castle show this side of the mountain as been a fairly flat surface, now note the massive indentation in the centre of the photograph above that was cause by the blast of the mine.
- The highest enclosure, “La Torreta”, is the oldest portion of the castle and most of it dates back to the 14th century & is the location of the keep visitors will find the keep and the most ancient remains of the fortress, which mostly date from the
- CAUTION. In some parts of the castle there are deep drops that do not have protective rails or walls, such as accessible roofs of buildings. Take extra care & keep children safe near the edge.
- If walking to the castle, it is a strenuous walk. The hill does not stop when inside the fortress continues upward though several levels.
Entrance & Access to Santa Barbara Castle
There are 2 entrances into the Castle:
- The Main Entrance, available by: .
- Walking, its a 165m high uphill walk, with various routes, taking around 20 -30mins.
- The nicest walk is through the Old Town area of Santa Creu, see Once inside the castle there is still plenty of uphill walking.
- Car, Taxi or Mini Tour buses for drop off & pick up only.
- Note: Car Parking for people with reduced mobility & possibly bicycles only, near the entrance
- The Lift Entrance
- A pedestrian tunnel and lift gives easy access to the castle. Located on the inland side of the dual Carriageway main road sea front buildings. Sign posted on the promenade and shown on our ma
The Main Entrance
The main entrance route consists of 4 outer gateways and then The Main Entrance through the Main Castle wall
- The Outer Gated Entrance is on the far side of the castle away from the sea front in the north east corner.
Interactive Photo of Outer Gated Entrance
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- The wall has Musket loopholes & 2 cannon ports
- Note The stone sentry post just inside the entrance
- This is followed by a bridge, originally a drawbridge over a ditch.
- Then a second entrance & guardhouse.
- Where the road turns the corner to the right you will see the Mini Bus park straight in front of you.
- Immediately on the corner, after the turn is the third gateway.
- After this is another ditch & bridge followed by the fourth outer gateway
- Bear right & uphill for The Main Castle Entrance or go straight ahead & downhill for the disabled car park & the Bon Repose Bastion with its cannon
Interactive Photo of Santa Barbara Castle Main Gate & Entrance
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By Car
- Car Parking is not allowed at the castle. Access is restricted to Loading and unloading of passengers during strictly necessary time: taxis, VTC, people with reduced mobility, minibuses
- The road up to the castle starts from Avenida de Jaime II, near the Marq Tram station which is 200 metres from the N332 the main coastal highway, excluding the Motorways (Autopista & Autovia)
Walking
- There are alternative paths up to the castle, the best one is through El Ereta park with an entrance next to the Water Museum. This route gives spectacular views over the Old Town, Marina and Sea Front
- The route to Ereta park takes you through the historic oldest district of Alicante , which has some very beautiful streets
Sea Front Tunnel & Lift to the Castle - Pedestrians only
- Located on the land side of the sea front main road N322, Postiguet beach.
- Sometimes the Lift is closed. Check with the tourist information office.
- Lift: The tunnel entrance leading to the lift is on the landward side of the sea front dual carriageway, N-332, 70m before the narrow pedestrian bridge over the main road. Look for the signs.
- There is a charge to go up in the Lift. Free to go down. Castle entrance is free.
- There is a traffic Lights controlled crossing over the road.
- Caution Do not use the glass walled lift next to the narrow pedestrian bridge, it goes to the upper level road, not the castle.
- A small charge is made for the lift, tickets obtained from a machine in the tunnel just before the lift. There is a castle information office just inside the tunnel entrance where you can obtain a free castle guide book.
- The entrance tunnel is 205 metres long and the 2 lifts rise 150 metres to the castle
- The last lift down is at 7:45pm Summer, 6:45 Winter, 45 minutes before the castle closes
- Near by bus stop:
- From Alicante Centre: 2, 14B, 21, 21N, 22, 22N, 23N.
- To Alicante Centre: 2, 14A.
Click Photo for larger Image
Castillo Santa Barbara Entrance to tunnel for Lift to the Castle. Old Photograph
Tunnel
Tunnel to Castle Lift from the N332 main sea front road. The tunnel now has been decorated & more modern lighting installed.
Exhibition Halls Entrance Building
- There are 2 exhibition rooms in or very near this building:
- Exhibition - The Bronze Age Treasure of Villena (Exposicion El Tesorode Villena) in the Tavern (Taberna).
- Exhibition - The 'clicks' take the Castle of Santa Barbara & Torture & Death in the Guard Room.
- The Clicks are Playmobil small dolls
- Exhibitions may change.
History Time line
Alicante: Castle And Historical Centre Tour
- 3 hour tour with guide
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- The meeting point is at Patio de Armas (1st floor) See Map
- Tour end at Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya, 1, 03002 Alicante, Alicante, Spain Located near the port
Alicante: Castle And Historical Centre Tour. More Information or Book
Santa Barbara Castle Cafes
There is 1 cafe with indoor or outdoor seating, and 2 outdoor kiosks
Interactive Photo of the Main Bar Cafe, Cafeteria Santa Barbara,Terrace on the Kings Bastion
- The Kings Bastion is located on the North side of the Armas Parade Ground (Patio de Armas) at the next level up.
- Indoor or outdoor Large cafe terrace, both with tables & chairs. Great views from the terrace..
- Menu Opens in a separate tab/page
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Cafe Kiosk Santa Ana Bastion
- Located on the Santa Ana Bastion on the South East corner of Armas Parade Ground just past the toilets.
- Stone benches & Tables scattered around the bastion
Cafe Kiosk Near Lift Level 2
Interactive Photo of Cafe Kiosk.
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- Located opposite the Visitor Centre. & Museum in the Engineers Corps Building
- Toilets available nearby.
- Tables & Chairs under parasols
Santa Barbara Castle Photographs
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Santa Barbara Castle towers over the tall sea front buildings
Castillo Santa Barbara framed by Palm trees
Castillo Santa Barbara Battlement and inland view
Alicante's Santa Barbara Castle view of Alicante's Harbour
Castillo Santa Barbara View over the Cap de l Horta Peninsular
Santa Barbara's Queens (La Reina) Rampart and shear rock face
Melia Hotel centre, La Ronda beach on the left & Harbour on right, viewed from castle
View Inland of the outer fringes of Alicante and the spectacular mountain backdrop
Castillo Santa Barbara Inland side. Road to Castle entrance above centre left. Mini bus park in front of far battlements
Town Hall, centre bottom, viewed from Santa Barbara Castle
Santa Maria church at the foot of Mount (Mont) Benacanil
The corner of Casa-Carbonell & Santa Barbara Castle
Alicante Cathedral viewed from Santa Barbara Castle
Canons mounted on the highest ramparts of Castillo Santa Barbara
Marina & Port viewed through a canon port of Santa Barbara Castle
Bull Ring lower centre as seen from Santa Barbara Castle
Castillo Santa Barbara outer Entrance & view over lower battlements
Castillo Santa Barbara Sundial, right of centre, on rampart
Castillo Santa Barbara Sentry Box with the gap, in foreground, blasted away by the massive mine
Face of The Moor in the rock Alicante, left side silhouette against the sky
Old Town nestled below Castillo
Santa Barbara ramparts
Alicante 5 Museum Halls at Santa Barbara Castle
Engineers Corps Building
- Turned into a Visitor Information Centre. Holds an exhibition of archaeological remains and an audiovisual presentation of the City’s history on a big screen.
Old hospital
- It houses the exhibition The historic links between Alicante & the Mediterranean (Alicante Traspasada de Mediterráneo)
Long Room (Sala Larga)
- Exhibits the exhibition Stories and people. At the back of the room you can see the old medieval gate to the fortress.
The Mine that defeated the British
- The British forces attacked Alicante in 1706 and took the Town in 8 days & Castle 2 months later, during the War of Succession 1701 – 1714
- The French and Spanish forces made siege to the Castle in 1708 They took 3 months digging a tunnel into Mount Benacantil under the fortress, packing the tunnel with gunpowder.
- The castle was being defended by the English and a few Austrians.
- The Spanish informed the English of what they had done and gave them the opportunity to leave the castle
- The English thought the threat was a ruse and stayed put.
- After vacating the houses below the fuse was lit on the 4 of March 1709.
- The explosion of the mine caused caused destruction of a wall and tower and hundreds of tons of rock was blown sky high and around 400 houses below were buried by the falling rocks.
- The defenders surrendered & the Spanish then gained control of the castle.,
- The defenders were allowed to leave.
Old Dungeons under the Plaza de Armas
- Due to the risks associated with the narrow staircase, the old dungeons under the Plaza de Armas can only be visited with a guide, within the fortress own guided tour programme.
History Time line
713 Muslim Conquest of Alicante
1248 Recapture of the Castle 4th December by Castilian forces led by Prince Alfonso of Castile
1575 Reformation of the Castle by Felipe II. That's the Spanish King who launched the Spanish Armada in against England in1588.
1701-1714 War of Succession, which the British took advantage of and occupied the castle in July 1706
1709 Explosion of the Mine under the Castle 4th March, ending the nearly 3 year British Occupation
1936-1939 Civil War followed by castle neglect and decline.
1960 Rehabilitation of the castle
1963 Opened to the public along with the lift
