Santa Bárbara Castle in Alicante
The special Santa Bárbara Castle, high above Alicante on the Costa Blanca
in Spain, offers an amazing view towards the city. It also has a rich history.
Inside the Santa Bárbara Castle you'll see an history tour of the special place.
All important dates are marked and shown by pictures.
in Spain, offers an amazing view towards the city. It also has a rich history.
History
On the slopes of the mountain, Bronze Age, Iberian and Roman artifacts have
been found however the origins of the castle goes back to the 9th. century
during the Muslim control of the Iberian Peninsula.
been found however the origins of the castle goes back to the 9th. century
during the Muslim control of the Iberian Peninsula.
On 4 December 1248, the castle was captured by Castilian forces led by
Alfonso of Castile. It was named after Saint Barbara, on whose feast day
the castle was recaptured from the Arabs.
Alfonso of Castile. It was named after Saint Barbara, on whose feast day
the castle was recaptured from the Arabs.
It was conquered by the Aragonese in 1296 during the reign of
James II of Aragon, who ordered its reconstruction. Peter IV of Aragon,
Charles I of Spain and Philip II of Spain would oversee further
reconstructions.
Charles I of Spain and Philip II of Spain would oversee further
reconstructions.
The castle was bombarded in 1691 by a French squadron. During the War
of the Spanish Succession, it was held by the British for three years.
of the Spanish Succession, it was held by the British for three years.
In 1873, it was bombarded, along with the city, by the cantonalistas
from the frigate Numancia.
from the frigate Numancia.
From the 18th century the military role of the castle has declined
and it was used sometimes as a prison.
and it was used sometimes as a prison.
From April 1939, with the end of the Spanish Civil War, it was used
as a Francoist concentration camp for Republican prisoners until
the end of that year.
as a Francoist concentration camp for Republican prisoners until
the end of that year.
The castle remained abandoned until 1963, when it was opened
to the public.
to the public.
All important dates are marked and shown by pictures.
Nowadays
Lifts have been installed inside the mountain
(€2.70 charge in October 2018 but free for adults aged 65
on production of ID).
(€2.70 charge in October 2018 but free for adults aged 65
on production of ID).
There are some guided tours at €3 per person and there are refreshments
and other amenities at and near the summit.
and other amenities at and near the summit.
A visit
We visited the castle in October 2022, though the weather wasn't that
nice we enjoyed the spectacular views towards Alicante.
nice we enjoyed the spectacular views towards Alicante.
Own pictures taken in October 2022
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