Fortress santa barbara in alicante, spain. Spain, g

On the Mediterranean coast of Spain, on the top of Benacantil, in Alicante rises a magnificent castle with the beautiful name of Santa Barbara. This is one of the main symbols of the sunny resort town.

Fortress of Santa Barbara (Spain) is a widely visited and popular place among tourists.

Even the most fascinating journey to the castle is fraught with many unexpected and pleasant surprises. An hour and a half tour of its territory gives a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions.

general description

The medieval castle is a celebration of engineering and military architecture. It rises majestically above the beautiful city at an altitude of 166 meters. This is one of the largest fortresses in Spain. The rock itself resembles a face with its outlines, in connection with which it is also called the “face of the Moor”.

The castle consists of three levels located at different heights, and each represents the history of different eras. This magnificent building is actually located in the central part of the city, by the sea.

The fortress, built about 10 centuries ago, is greatly admired by numerous tourists and citizens. Thanks to the multi-level construction, amazing views of the landscapes of the city open up from almost all points. Yes, and the castle is magnificently visible from afar and is an excellent landmark.

The fortress of Santa Barbara in Alicante is amazing and interesting both for its architecture and centuries-old history.

Her address: 03002, Spain, the city of Alicante, Plaza del Cuarter, 1.

Elements of architecture

The main sights of the fortress are the Armory, the military building, the hall of Philip II (the king), the queen's bastion and the guard building. The interior rooms correspond to the external appearance of the castle, they are also decorated in a medieval spirit.

You can climb into the fortress by elevators with entrances, equipped opposite the Postiguet resort beach. You can take the elevator for a small fee, but thrill-seekers can walk uphill along a rather long staircase with bridges.

Ancient history of the castle

A long time ago, in the third century BC. e. The Greeks built impregnable defensive fortifications. A very good place for the bastions was strategically chosen. Thanks to this position of the fortress, it was convenient to observe the entrances to the city and hold power over a large territory.

In honor of St. Barbara, whose feast is celebrated annually in these places in early December, the fortress of Santa Barbara got its name. Its history is full of numerous events.

One of the most heroic moments in history is the year 1296. At that time, the commandant of the fortress named Nicholas Paris, who defended it from the enemy army of King Jaime II, fighting to the last, immortalized his name. With one hand, stained with the blood of his enemies, he held a sword, and with the other hand he firmly held the key to the fortress. According to legend, the enemies were able to get it only by cutting off the hand of the commandant-hero only after his death. And now, at the highest point of the castle, an inscription dedicated to the feat of Nicholas Paris is carved.

About the destruction and reconstruction of the castle

For a long time of its existence, the fortress of Santa Barbara changed owners several times and, accordingly, was reconstructed. In January 1844, during the uprising led by Colonel Pantaleon Bonet, the castle was occupied by them, but, due to the betrayal of one of his subordinates, Bonet himself fell into a trap. And in the end, the castle was captured by the people of Espartero. All the rebels were executed right in the fortress walls. At the site of their execution today stands the Memorial dedicated to the Martyrs of Liberty, which is dedicated to the fallen comrades-in-arms of Pantaleon Bonet.

The castle was seriously damaged during the war of 1873. He suffered greatly as a result of his shelling from the Spanish battleship Numancia, controlled by rebels from Cartagena.

20th century castle

In the late 1930s, Santa Barbara was used as a prison for captured Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. Witnesses of those times are the inscriptions and engravings left by them on the walls. After the end of the war, the fortress was abandoned for some time, and only thanks to the city authorities it turned into a unique monument of historical heritage.

Since 1963, the restoration of this building has been carried out. 2 elevators were built, lifting the visitors of the fortress in just one minute to the very top of the mountain (the path length is 204.83 meters).

Fortress today

Thus, the fortress of Santa Barbara today is perfectly equipped for its convenient inspection by numerous visitors.

In addition, magnificent concerts and festivals take place here on summer nights, and picnics are arranged in winter. On the territory of the lowest level there are tables and benches.

Inside the castle, you can visit educational exhibitions.

From the fortress, having found some kind of loophole, you can go down the so-called Great Wall of China (Spanish) and get into the preserved old quarter called Barrio Santa Cruz. These are narrow streets with white houses, where the voices of children chasing a soccer ball are heard.

The observation decks of the fortress offer a delightful panorama that combines an excellent city, a view of the beautiful sea, road forks, the beach, the port and neighboring cities.

What else can you see in the castle?

The fortress of Santa Barbara in Alicante is a rather complex and impressive structure. It consists, as noted above, of three levels that arose in different eras and are monuments of bygone times.

The towers and walls represent traditional knightly architecture. Some parts of the structure (upper) have been preserved since Arab times.

Today, the territory of the fortress is well equipped for the convenience of tourists visiting the museum. Equipped with exhibition halls with permanent and temporary expositions, the content of which is dedicated to the glorious history of the castle, its appearance changing over the centuries.

It should be noted the observation platforms of the fortress, of which there are several. They offer stunning views, especially during sunset and at night, when the city is transformed by night lights.

On the territory of the fortress there are equipped recreation areas with souvenir tents and cafes.

How to get to the castle

Anyone has the opportunity to visit the fortress of Santa Barbara in Alicante. Entrance there is free.

The easiest way is the high-speed elevator, the entrance to which is located in the center of the Benacantil mountain, near the Postiguet beach. Moreover, the rise is quite fast, and the cost for services (only for the rise) is 3 euros. Young children and the elderly can use the lift free of charge.

You can also get to the castle by taxi or by your own car along the highway. For transport, there is a free parking lot on the lower level of the castle.

For lovers of romantic trips, there is a more interesting way to climb, on foot, which will bring additional pleasure. With this hike, you can see two more amazing sights: the Santa Cruz quarter and the Parc de la Ereta. In the first, as noted above, you can see the ancient Moorish buildings of the 13th century, and in the exotic green park you can relax on the benches by the fountain and walk along the paths.

The most courageous and fearless climb right up the rock, but this is quite dangerous and forbidden.

Let me tell you about our holiday in Alicante. Somehow we planned a wonderful trip. From Kaliningrad by car we went to Zakopane, after living there for a week, we went to Krakow, having rested in Krakow for three days, we flew to Spain. And in Spain, we divided the rest like this: a week in Alicante (with a trip to Elche), a week in Benidorm (with a trip to Valencia).

Alicante is a port city located on the Costa Blanca. It's not far from the airport, about 20 minutes. The city is in many ways typical Spanish))) Clean and well-groomed.
We lived in an apart-hotel, we had a room with a kitchen, so we often cooked ourselves. Products, as usual in Spain, we bought the Mercadona supermarket, it was located in the city center not far from the coast and our hotel. When using a plastic card, we were almost always asked for an identity document (we showed a driver's license), and once, without malicious intent, we caused a collapse in the store))) Having collected products for 35 euros, we provided a banknote of 500 euros for payment, we just didn't have any other money with us. We collected change at all the cash desks, and we must pay tribute to the employees: they did not lose their temper and did not send us to hell))) We really like Mercadona with its choice of products, especially seafood and fruits, and there is just a lot of new ... that which is not available in our stores. Pay attention to what the locals take, they know better what products are worthy of their meals))) Separately, I will say about wine. As we were once told on an excursion during our first visit to Spain: do not be afraid to buy inexpensive Spanish wine in stores - it is young and it flows like water here, therefore it does not cost a lot of money.

Pay attention to the pineapple I posted. We bought it in such a convenient form in Mercadona (well, probably, these are sold not only in this store). It is cleaned, it was given a cylindrical shape with a hole, packed in dense polyethylene (not photographed), the expiration date is a day. Wonderful - I bought it, quickly cut it, ate it.)))

Do you know that it is not customary for Spaniards to say "bon appetit", because they always have a good appetite anyway?))) In Spain they say "buen provecho" - good assimilation))))

Buildings in Alicante are dense, not all hotels have their own parking, or there is parking, but it is very small and insufficient for all guests. In the city center there is a multi-storey paid large parking lot, with which some hotels enter into an agreement, giving you the opportunity to leave your car there (we rented it at the airport). From this parking lot, of course, you will need to walk to the hotel, but for us this path took 5-7 minutes.

The city's beaches are wide and clean. We went mainly to the main city beach of Postiguet, I’ll tell you more about it. A flag of the corresponding color is always placed on the beach: green - you can swim; yellow - in general, you can swim, but do not forget that the sea is worried; red - swimming is prohibited. There are lifeguards on the tower, and if you decide to swim with a forbidding signal, they will come for you.))) Maybe they will even come, but this is not certain)))). The beach has a small playground and lonely, rare palm trees. You can hide from the heat under a palm tree, but most often you have already been overtaken and there is someone under it.))) Periodically, an uncle from a beach cafe will pass you along the beach with a tray and an offer to buy cool sangria in a plastic glass or chopped fruit. Walking dogs on the beach is prohibited. The sea is pleasant, clean, beautiful with a soft entry into the water, we liked everything very much.

And this device is like an underpass, but only above the ground. Elevated crossing.))) You can get to the beach anyway. Well, or just from the city on pedestrian crossings))). What's more, note that there is an elevator near this overpass, well thought out if you don't want to or can't take the stairs.

Alicante has a good wide promenade, walks along which give visual pleasure and saturation with sea air. Along the embankment there are shopping malls with souvenirs, local sweets, beach towels, benches, and exercise equipment. Sometimes a stage is opened here and chairs are set up, arranging small concerts.

The castle-fortress of Santa Barbara on Mount Benacantil deserves special attention in Alicante. This is one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain. The entrance to the fortress itself is free, but you need to walk to it, if you wish, you can use the elevator. We took advantage.

The fortress offers a wonderful, magnificent, bewitching view of the sea, Alicante and its surroundings.

The fortress of Santa Barbara was completed, destroyed in places during the wars, completed again ... It's interesting there, you go to different levels ... and you want higher, higher) Everywhere there are arches, paths, steps, rooms ... There are many trees, shrubs, you can meet pigeons, among which there are many white ones. There is a cafe, a souvenir shop and a toilet.

In Alicante, like many places in Europe, you can walk through the narrow streets, admire the historic center, ancient basilicas, refresh yourself by sitting on a bench near the fountain. For me personally, it is very important that the rest is not limited to the beach.

The medieval fortress of Santa Barbara is the main historical attraction of the city of Alicante and its calling card. From the observation decks of the castle, fabulously beautiful views of the sea, the port and the city open up. Entrance to the castle grounds is free, but you have to pay for some exhibited expositions.

Alicante castle

Above the multi-colored roofs of the city of Alicante, Mount Benacantil rises in a monumental bulk. For the bizarre outlines of the stone slopes, it is often called the "face of the Moor." The walls of one of the largest fortresses of medieval Spain, the famous Santa Barbara (Castillo de Santa Bárbara), grow directly from the rocks.

Description of the fortress

The fortress extends over the slopes in three levels; built them in stages, at different times. The oldest part is located at the top (166 m). At the highest level of the fortress, the foundations of medieval buildings survived: the Engineering Park, the English Bastion and the Hall of Glory. On the upper esplanade you can see fragments of the ancient citadel and the main watchtower of Moorish times - La Torreta.

At the middle level are the buildings of 1562–80. These are the Military Corps and the Armory, the Bastion of the Queen, the Hall of Philip II, the ruins of the chapel of Barbara.

At the lower level are the approaches to the castle, parking. There, at the foot of the fortress, in the old part of Alicante, there is Parque de la Ereta, where public events take place.

1. Ravelin Bon Repos
2. Santa Ana Bastion (Baluarte de Santa Ana)
3. Drinking water storage place (Aljibe)
4. Taberna. Exhibition "Treasures of Villena"
5. Military corps. Exhibitions – Capture of the castle; Torture Museum
6. Arms Square (Plaza de Armas)
7. Dungeon (Calabozo. MUSA)
8. Bastion of the Queen (Baluarte de la Reina)
9. Barracks (Cuartel de la Tropa)
10. Ruins of the chapel of Saint Barbara
11. Fortress fence (Baluarte del Rey)
12. Ruins of the bakery (Ruinas de la Tahona)
13. Gunpowder storage (Almacén de la Pólvora)
14. Santa Catalina Tower (Torre de Santa Catalina)
15. Tower of Sant Jordi (Torre de Sant Jordi)
16. Dungeons. "Mine Explosion" (Calabozos)
17. Info Centre, Engineering Building (Cuerpo de Ingenieros)
18. Hospital
19. Long hall. "About people" ("Historias y Personas")
20. Medieval Alcazaba (Alcazaba Medieval)
21. Governor's House (Casa del Gobernador)
22. The highest platform - Macho del Castillo

Fortress today

Santa Barbara welcomes tourists every day of the year. Esplanade Macho del Castillo is an excellent observation platform. Several halls in the restored outbuildings are reserved for the Museum of the History of Alicante; there is an exposition of antique ceramics, a photo gallery, an exhibition of heraldic symbols of the ancient families of Alicante. There is also a platform where ancient wall and siege weapons are demonstrated.

On the territory of the fortress in the summer you can visit events and excursions for tourists of all ages, theatrical performances, "full moon nights". Concerts, children's performances, dance evenings are held on the Arms Square. Craft fairs are held in the Engineering Park. Now in the five halls of the fortress, the Spanish Tolkien Society is organizing a grandiose exhibition "The Fortress of the Ring".

Story

There have been settlements on Mount Benacantil since ancient times (this is confirmed by the finds of archaeologists). The fortress was founded by the Moors in the 9th century. The citadel was strategically important for Alicante: from the top of the mountain, the bay, roads and all the surrounding neighborhoods were visible. Christians conquered Santa Barbara in the middle of the XIII century. In the XIV century, the fortress was significantly expanded, under Carlos I, fortifications appeared, and under Philip II, the main halls and many outbuildings.

More than once the fortress was subjected to artillery shelling and destruction. In the 18th century, it lost its defensive significance, served as a prison, then was abandoned for a long time. In 1963, reconstruction took place, and Santa Barbara became a tourist attraction.

legends

With this fortress, as with many medieval monuments in Spain, folk legends are associated. One romantic story refers to the era of the reign of the Moors.

The daughter of a Muslim ruler, Princess Zahara, fell in love with the Spanish nobleman Riccardo. The lovers secretly met outside the castle, they wanted to get married. However, the father had already chosen a suitable groom for his daughter: the beautiful princess was to become the wife of the Sultan of Damascus. Upon learning of this, Zakhara fell seriously ill. The old Moor was afraid for her life, but still did not want to give his daughter to a Christian and went to the trick. He said that the lovers would be able to unite only if the earth turned white in the morning. If this does not happen, Riccardo will be hanged from the tower of the castle. Zahara prayed until morning for the earth to turn white, and all night petals fell from the orange trees above the fortress. In the morning people decided that it had snowed - everything around was white. But by order of the treacherous ruler, the young man was hanged before dawn. The inconsolable princess threw herself from the tower onto the coastal rocks. The father, seeing what he had done, jumped after her. From that day on, the features of the cunning Moor were imprinted in the deep stone folds of Mount Benacantil.

Another legend is connected with the name of Nicholas Paris, the commandant of the fortress. In 1248, the reign of the Arabs in this part of Spain ended. Alicante was under the rule of Alfonso of Castile. In 1296, the army of James II of Aragon attacked Santa Barbara. The defenders of the fortress fiercely resisted, fought for every step and every stone of the rock. The commandant was the last to fall, clutching the keys to the main gate tightly in his hand. Enemies were able to take them only by cutting off the dead hand. A monument was erected to Nicholas Paris, and a hand appeared on the coat of arms of the castle, forever squeezing a bunch of keys. Since then, the fortress has become impregnable, and Alicante has never been captured again.

Fortress opening hours:

Santa Barbara Castle is open every day.

How to get to Santa Barbara Castle?

You can get here on a pedestrian road, and since 1963 it has become possible to reach the top by an elevator, through a shaft cut in the thickness of the rock. Elevators leave from Jovellanos Boulevard and go through a 205 m long tunnel. The lift costs €2.7 to go up and down is free. The elevator operates from 10:00 to 20:00. The last elevator goes up at 19:20 and goes back down at 19:40.

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August 28th, 2015 04:25 am

Today I’ll tell you about the most, probably, the most memorable place in all of Alicante. This place is well-worn and crossed by tourists and travelers from all over the world, and a lot has been written about it, but this does not dampen interest in it at all. I'm talking about the Arab fortress of Santa Barbara, located on Mount Benacantil in the heart of the city:

The mountain itself is not too high, only 166 meters above sea level, however, due to the low residential development of Alicante, the fortress on its top is visible from almost anywhere in the city. This is a certain absolute dominant of these places, thanks to which it is extremely difficult to get lost here:
2.

There are three ways to enter the fortress. The first, and the easiest, is in your own car. At the entrance to the fortress, on the slope of the mountain, there is a small parking lot, there are few cars, no fee is charged. The second - on foot (interesting, but requires some physical effort). And the third, the most comfortable (but at the same time paid - €2.40) is to take the elevator:
3.

Once on the territory of the fortress, you find yourself in the atmosphere of a typical medieval citadel of the XIII - XV centuries. The safety of objects and defensive structures is quite high, but all this is the merit of modern restorers. Until 1963, the fortress was in disrepair:
4.

There is an opinion that the first fortifications were laid by the Moorish conquerors at the end of the 9th century AD, and even then the fortress was an important strategic object, since the sea approach to the city was perfectly visible from it. However, most modern historians agree that Santa Barbara did not acquire its present appearance until the middle of the 13th century:
6.

It was then, on December 4, 1248, that the history of the citadel began its new round. On this day, Prince Alfonso of Castile, the future King Alfonso X the Wise, recaptured the fortress from the Arabs. The fortress itself was named Santa Barbara in honor of the day of St. Barbara, which fell on the capture of the citadel:
7.

In 1296 the fortress was again stormed. This time, King Jaime II made an attempt to seize it. The attempt was successful. Having met fierce resistance from a detachment of defenders led by the commandant of the fortress Nicholas Paris, the Aragonese troops nevertheless achieved what they wanted, the citadel was taken:
9.

There is a legend that says that the last defenders of the fortress died defending every stone of the citadel, and Nicholas Paris himself fell, clutching his sword in one hand and the keys to the fortress in the other, which the invaders could only get by cutting off his hand. Since then, on the coat of arms of the fortress there is a symbol of a hand clutching the keys to the gate in its hand, as a sign of the stamina of its defenders:
10.

The locals believe in a legend that says that when the hand of Nicholas Paris opens and throws the keys, the city of Alicante will be conquered by the enemy. Fortunately for them, this legend has already proved that it has the right to exist - since then, Alicante has indeed never been taken again: neither by the British in the War of the Spanish Succession, nor by the French troops of Napoleon when he invaded the Iberian Peninsula (by the way, then only three cities were not captured by him: Lisbon, Cadiz and, in fact, Alicante). To this day, the fortress remains impregnable:
11.

After the return of the fortress under the crown of the kingdom of Aragon, Jaime II orders it to be reconstructed. Almost a century later, King Pedro IV Solemn completed the reconstruction of the fortress, and King Charles I at the beginning of the 16th century again took up its strengthening:
12.

Since then, without further significant reforms and changes, the fortress existed until the reign of Philip II (1556-1598). And only with the appointment of a new commandant of the fortress, Juan Colom, the construction of new buildings began, which we can see today:
13.

In 1691, Santa Barbara was bombarded by a French squadron. A little later, during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), it was held by the British for three years. And in 1873, along with the city, the citadel was fired upon by Spanish rebels from the Numancia frigate:
14.

Naturally, all this could not but affect the defensive structures of Santa Barbara. The fortress was seriously damaged. However, at present, the results of these clashes of the past are almost invisible. The walls and towers of the citadel are in good condition, artillery pieces are installed in the loopholes, the fortress looks like new:
15.

During the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39, Santa Barbara served as a prison for captured Republicans and people associated with the Second Spanish Republic. They write on the Internet that you can still see traces of their stay here and engravings left by imprisoned republicans on the walls of the castle. But I found only the coat of arms of the city itself:
17.

From the observation deck of the fortress, you can see the whole of Alicante and neighboring cities:
18.

Panoramas from the walls of Santa Barbara are really impressive:
20.

There are a lot of seagulls around. They are literally everywhere. The noise of birds around is such that you need to raise your voice so that the interlocutor hears you:
21.

Here, on the rocks, they nest:
22.

Since 1963, after restoration, the fortress has been open to the public. Walking is allowed from 10 am to 10 pm in the summer. And from 10 am to 8 pm in the autumn-winter period. Then the guards of all latecomers politely escort:
23.

By the way, in addition to hiking with a camera, today you can also visit the Museum of History, but, unfortunately, I didn’t get into it. I simply didn't make it. We arrived here 2 hours before closing, and the territory is rather big. I wanted to make the most of:
25.

And yet, no matter how good it is here, it's time to go down, walk a little through the evening Alicante:
26.

Alicante is the second largest and most important city of Valencia, the largest tourist center of the resort coast of the Costa Blanca. The city is rather big, about 335,000 people live here, among them there are many emigrants from Argentina and Colombia:
27.

In Alicante, you can most often hear Spanish speech and the Valencian dialect of the Catalan language. Most of the city's population is employed in trade and the tourism industry:
28.

The architecture of the city is very diverse, here you can see examples of all styles of architecture: Greek and Romanesque, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, Modernism. This diversity reflects the history of Alicante: its favorable geographical position attracted conquerors from different times and peoples:
29.

The Basilica of Saint Mary of Alicante is the oldest and one of the most beautiful churches in the city. Interestingly, it was founded in the 14th century on the ruins of an Islamic mosque. Inside the church, Gothic sculptures of Saints John and Mary, a gilded altar of the 18th century in the Rococo style have been preserved. But I can’t show all this, because. the reason is the same - a catastrophic lack of time ...
30.

Most of the facades of buildings in the city center are decorated with stunning beauty and filigree bas-reliefs:
31.

And of course, the city's promenade Esplanade de España is a favorite place for walking for the inhabitants of Alicante. The picturesque Primorsky Boulevard with a beautiful palm alley and a marble pavement made of 6 million mosaic elements stretches for half a kilometer along the Postiguet beach and the seaport. The Esplanade has numerous restaurants and bars; ice cream and handmade souvenirs are sold here, concerts and various shows are held in the evenings:
32.

It was the "equator" of our expedition. The next stop was Valencia, the fourth city on our itinerary. See you there next time.

Arriving in the Spanish Mediterranean resort city of Alicante, it is impossible not to visit the most famous historical landmark and cultural heritage of the country - Santa Barbara Fortress (Spanish name Castillo de Santa Barbara). Castle Santa Barbara is located in the center of Alicante, on top of Mount Benacantil or Benacantil (Mount Benacantil) at an altitude of 166 meters above sea level, within walking distance from the beach and other central attractions of the city. Tourists from all over the country and the world come to visit this fortress.

Santa Barbara Castle can rightly be called the hallmark of Alicante, it can be seen from all corners of the city.

View of Mount Benacantil and Santa Barbara Castle

It is said that the Benacantil rock is shaped like a face. That is why the mountain is also called "the face of the Moor" (la cara del moro). True, we did not notice this similarity, no matter how hard we tried. However, it is precisely for this reason that the outline of the face is clearly visible on the coat of arms of the city. The Spaniards themselves attach such serious importance to the mountain and the castle on its top, they even reflected this fact on the coat of arms.

How to get to Santa Barbara Castle

Although the mountain seems tall, and the castle at its very top looks tiny and so far away, you can climb Mount Benacantil and walk to Santa Barbara Castle in just 10-15 minutes from the center of Alicante. There are lifts, both free and paid - on a high-speed elevator.

Paid high-speed elevator to Santa Barbara Fortress

The entrance to the high-speed elevator, where you can climb to the very top of the mountain in just one minute and get straight into the heart of Snata Barbara Castle, is located on Jovellanos Boulevard, opposite carrer de Jovellanos 1.

The elevator ride is paid, the cost is 2.70 Euro per person. Payment through the terminal. Children under 4 years old and people over 65 years old enter for free.

The paid elevator operates daily: from 10:00 to 19:45. From 19:45 to 23:10, you can go up and down the elevator for free. From 11:10 pm to 11:30 pm, the elevator operates only for descent, also free of charge.

This is the only thing you have to pay for, apart from souvenirs and cafes, if you want to buy something or eat. Everything else in the castle: inspection, exhibitions, museums - are free.

Free climb to Santa Barbara Fortress

You can climb Mount Benacantil and go to the fortress of Santa Barbara for free. The rise takes only 10-20 minutes, after. Santa Cruz is the oldest district of the city, which has preserved the way of life of medieval Spain, a very picturesque place, we advise you to take a walk.

In the evening, when it gets dark, from the observation decks of the fortress there is an equally impressive panorama of the city and the coast, if not more beautiful than the daytime…

Why is the fortress called Santa Barbara! Interesting?

Based on history, on December 4, 1248, on the day of Saint Barbara (Barbara), Prince Alfonso of Castile, the future King Alfonso X the Wise, with pressure and heroic courage won the bastions from the Arabs. It was in honor of the day of St. Barbara, on which the capture of the citadel fell, that the Fortress was named Santa Barbara.

The name of the fortress also corresponds to the Santa Barbara TV series of the same name. Remember this one? The longest series in the world, the development of which was closely followed by our grandmothers and mothers.

History of Fortress Santa Barbara

After the conquest of the castle by King Alfonso, in 1296 King James II of Aragon again captured the fortress, while meeting and subduing fierce resistance. A detachment of defenders, led by the brave commandant of the fortress Nicholas Paris, defended every inch of the castle as best they could, but it still did not help them. According to legend, Nicholas Paris died clutching his sword in one hand and the keys to the fortress in the other. The enemies only got the keys when they cut off his hand. The commandant, by his heroic deed and courage, earned the recognition not only of his compatriots, but also of his enemies. At the highest point of the fortress, a monument of honor and glory will be erected to him. Also on the coat of arms of the fortress there is a symbol corresponding to that historical event - a hand squeezing the keys to the gate, as a sign of the stamina of its defenders.

In 1691, the fortress of Santa Barbara was bombarded by the French squadron. And during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701-1714, it was held by the British for three years.

In 1873, the castle of Santa Barbara, along with the city, was shelled by Spanish rebels from the frigate Numancia.

From the beginning of the eighteenth century, the fortress gradually lost its military significance and its buildings began to be used as a prison. So she remained in a semi-abandoned state until 1963, until, after restoration, she was open to public visits. We can see the walls and the territory of the fortress, restored and close to the age-old history, at the present time. To this day, the castle is regularly restored and maintained in good condition.