Santa Barbara Castle

It is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe and it lies on top of Benacantil Mountain. Originally built by the Moors in the 10th century, the castle was named after it was conquered by King Alphonse the Wise, which took place on December 4, 1248: the day of Sacred Barbara. Over the following centuries it was developed and expanded leaving it with three main areas all dating back to different epochs.
Santa Barbara Castle has everything you could expect, cannons, a palace, dungeons, a ditch, the ruins of a small church and, of course, the famous watchtower. From its walls, from every corner, a fantastic view lies at its feet, a good opportunity to take some great pictures. And when you are tired of walking on the steep paths, on the wet rocks full of moss or through the places from where incense oil was thrown over those who wanted to siege the city, there are two areas with cafes where you can take a break in the shade of pines.
The castle is open to visitors and has two entrance points. If you feel energetic you can walk along the road that winds around the back of the mountain, or if time is short, you can climb by car. An easier way for a small fee (free of charge if you are disabled or elderly citizen of the European Community) is through a lift that climbs through a tunnel dug in the rock. You can find the entrance opposite the Postiguet beach area.
Santa Barbara Castle is an excellent place to visit at any time of the year. In the middle of the summer it is a perfect place to catch the sea breeze, while in the colder months walking up to the castle through parks and pine forests allows you some time to reflect on the difficulties of capturing it.Less