The Santa Barbara Fortress in Alicante is the largest and most important of the fortresses in the region. It is located on Mount Benacantil, at an altitude of 166 m right by the sea, actually in the centre of the city.
The fortress dates back to the IX-XI centuries, when it was built by the Moors, Muslims, whose rule over these lands lasted until the middle of the XIII century, although in fact the fortifications (less significant) on the mountain were since the founding of the settlement of the ancient Greeks, III century BC, and then changed hands with these lands, having been in the possession of the ancient Romans, Iberians, Muslims (who first gave the fortress a look, more or less close to what you can see today). During the Middle Ages, the castle underwent several major rebuilds, which are detailed in the paintings on display in the main building of the castle, in the very same building where the lift is located.
The name of the fortress – Santa Barbara – sounds so familiar and close to a resident of the former USSR who lived through the epic epic of the eponymous TV series, however, it has nothing to do with the TV series or the American city where the action took place. The name appeared here thanks to the historical events of 1248, when the Castilian (Spanish) forces under the leadership of Inafanta Alfonso of Castile, the future King of Spain Alfonso X the Wise, took the city and the fortress from the Moors. It happened on the 4th of December 1248, and this day on the church calendar is the day of St. Barbara, aka Santa Barbara.
The fortress is huge and has 4 levels, 2 of which were built by the Moors and two by the Christians. It was actively used for its intended purpose, built, rebuilt and improved for 1000 years: from the IX century to the XIX century, until the moment when it lost its military importance. Progress does not stand still, and the development of military technology – including: the fortress simply became useless with the development of warfare techniques and new weapons.
Between 1936 and 1939, during the Spanish Civil War, it was a large prison and concentration camp, where the local socialists first held Frankist prisoners and then vice versa. The memory of those times remains numerous inscriptions, names of prisoners, carved by them on the slabs of squares and floors.
After the war, the fortress stood in disrepair for many years, like many other fortresses in the country: there were no resources and forces to restore them. The fortress was reopened to the public in 1963, after which it was repeatedly restored, and as a result it is now in excellent condition.
No nobles or kings have ever lived here, the fortress has always been a purely military site, perfectly prepared for sieges. Over time, Santa Barbara became a city within a city, with everything necessary for an autonomous existence: food, gunpowder and water stores; barracks, tavern, hospital, training grounds, mill, engineers’ corps, house of the fortress governor and so on.
The observation decks of the castle offer fabulously beautiful views of the sea, the harbour and the town.