On a hill high above Alicante Spain is a castle from the ninth century when the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule. In 1248 Castilian forces took control and named it Saint Barbara. In 1296 rulership changed to Kings of Aragon who ordered reconstruction. Through wartime bombings and neglect it was eventually abandoned until 1963 when it was opened to the public.
A lot of work has been done to make the place serviceable. You can see where new bricks have been inserted to support older bricks. All of the walkways probably get frequent maintenance.
In 1873 mortar shots from a frigate reached the castle as well as the town. There has been no defence artillery in the castle since 1893. It was used as a prison and as a concentration camp in 1939. Currently it has a restaurant and a museum, the Felipe II Hall, which can be rented for meetings, events and courses. The Weapons courtyard can be used for conferences, presentations, celebrations, gala dinners and other events.
Wow, that’s incredible. It’s so beautiful and so different from anything that I’ve ever experienced that I’m speechless. Really great post, Doug! Blog on!
Thanks Alice, tomorrow the views over Alicante are even more impressive.
What an incredible place to visit. I love the cactus, the castle, the ornate banners. I guess I don’t have a favorite as I really like them all! The video was great as it made it more a ‘you are there’ experience.
Hi Jodi. Thanks for the comment. I appreciate knowing what is of interest to you. 🤗
If I could afford to host a party here – I would. Great fun!
For a great party, the guests pay for admission to cover all of the expenses.