Santa Barbara Castle Alicante
Interesting article about the Santa Barbara Castle, Alicante, Spain.
Alicante Attractions - Santa Barbara Castle
The Santa Barbara Castle Alicante - In terms of sheer size - both surface area and buildings, the Santa Barbara Castle Alicante is one of the largest in the Mediterranean region. It dominates the summit of Mount Benacantil, a rocky mass soaring out of the sea to a height of 166m. Its privileged location has been an encouragement to human settlement from distant times, and vestiges of the Bronze, Iberian and Roman ages have all been found there.
The present fortress is Muslim in origin and dates from the end of the 9th century. Between 1562 and 1580, in the time of Philip II, extensive reformations were carried out, the work of Antonelli and Palearo.
The castle has three clearly differentiated areas. The highest part contains the oldest remains (11th to 13th century), and of particular interest are the Baluarte de los Ingleses (Rampart of the English), the Sala Noble (Hall of Nobles) and the Governor's House. The intermediate part consists mainly of buildings that were constructed in the 16th century, namely the Room of Philip II, the Cuerpo de Guardia (Guard's Wing), the Baluarte de la Reina (Queen's Rampart), and the Patio de Armas (the garrison courtyard), along with the ruins of the ancient hermitage of St. Barbara. The third part of the Castle was added in the 18th century and here you will find the Revellín de Bon Repós (an angular embankment) and the monument to the famous soldier from Alicante, Félix Berenguer de Marquina, who was a Captain-General in the Philippines and a Viceroy of New Mexico.
Located at various sites throughout the Castle, both indoors and out, are the Fundación Capa Sculpture Collection, the most important collection of contemporary Spanish sculpture (19th-20th centuries) in the world.
Apart from the lift, there are two walking routes down from the castle that will help us become even more familiar with this beautiful city.
Down the eastern side, looking onto the sea, you can take a calm stroll around the new park called parque de La Ereta. Designed by Marc Bigarnet and Fréderic Bonnet, it is a cultural meeting place, an open area that is decorated with autochthonous Mediterranean flora, a very pleasant experience when the weather is fine.
If you decide to walk down the northern side of the Castle, with your back to the sea, you will reach the square called Plaza Gómez Ulla, where the MARQ, Alicante's Provincial Archaeological Museum is located.
OPENING HOURS (CAPA COLLECTION):
Winter: 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm. Summer: 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm. Sundays: 10 am to 3 pm. CAPA Collection closed Mondays and Sunday afternoons. Phone: 965 15 29 69.
ALICANTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM (MARQ)
10 am to 7 pm. Sundays & Bank Holidays: 10 am to 2 pm. Mondays closed. Phone: 965 14 90 06
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
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