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Santa Barbara Castle Alicante (Castillo Santa Barbara,), Costs Blanca, Spain
Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo Santa Barbara), looking from the sea ward side of the town
The enormous Santa Barbara Castle (Castillo Santa Barbara) is located on of high cliffs of Mount (Mont) Benacanil just behind Alicante's sea front esplanade, Av J. R. Lafora. 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.
Access to the Castle
The entrance is on the far side of the castle away from the sea front.
By Car
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 Erata Park with an entrance next to the Water Museum. This route gives spectacular views over the Old Town, Marina and Sea Front
Sea Front Tunnel & Lift - Pedestrians only
Lift: The tunnel entrance leading to the lift is behind the elevated sea front buildings near the pedestrian bridge over the main road.Look for the signs. 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 tunnel is 205 metres long and the2 lifts rise 150 metres to the castle There are discussions on renovating the tunnel & lifts to improve the humidity and make access easier for people with reduced mobility The last lift down is at 7:45pm Summer, 6:45 Winter, 45 minutes before the castle closes |
Click image for larger photograph Castillo Santa Barbara Entrance to tunnel and Lift to the Castle |
 See how Alicante Castle towers over the sea front buildings |
 Castillo Santa Barbara framed by Palm trees |
 Alicante's Santa Barbara Castle with a tower of Casa Carbonell in foreground |
 Castillo Santa Barbara Battlement and inland view |
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 Castillo Santa Barbara View over the Albufereta Peninsular |
 Santa Barbara's Queens (La Reina) Rampart and rock face |
 Melia Hotel with La Ronda beach on the left & Harbour on right, viewed from castle |
 Castillo Santa Barbara Inland side. Road to Castle entrance above centre left. Coach park in front of far battlements |
 Town Hall, centre bottom, viewed from Santa Barbara |
 Santa Maria church almost on the lower slopes of Mount (Mont) Benacanil |
 View of the harbour, Casa Carbonell in lower centre & Melia hotel on left |
 Albufereta headland beyond the castle prison guard room |
 Alicante Cathedral lower centre |
 Canons mounted on the highest ramparts of Castillo Santa Barbara |
 Marina & Port viewed through a canon port |
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 Bull Ring lower centre as seen from Santa Barbara Castle |
 View Inland of the outer fringes of Alicante and the spectacular mountain backdrop |
 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 blasted away by the massive mine |
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 Old Town nestled below Castillo Santa Barbara ramparts |
