Route through six of the most spectacular castles in Alicante

Beyond its coasts and beautiful beaches, Alicante has much to offer and some of

appear among its heritage jewels . Due to its strategic importance and the mountainous orography of the land, the construction of fortresses and defensive works of Muslim origin in the area was continuous for centuries. Today, as a result of that past, more than 100 castles (some only have their ruins) populate the province. To these are added watchtowers, bastions, batteries, defensive towers and watchtowers, forts and forts, walled palaces and even churches, designed to defend against the enemy.

As covering them all is almost impossible, we propose a circular route to discover

.

The route starts in

, reaches the city of Alicante (about 60 km to the southeast) and returns inland again to

, a town just 10 km from the starting point.

Watchtower Castle (Villena)

To the northwest of the province lies this town crowned by its most important enclave, an old castle dating back to the 12th century that was under Muslim rule until 1240. At the foot of this fortress, in an excellent state of conservation, lies the primitive urban nucleus.

With a rectangular floor plan, the castle has a double walled enclosure and a four-story homage tower, the first two are from the Muslim period and the other two, from the Christian period.

On the façade you can see the coats of arms of Juan Pacheco, Marqués de Villena, one of the owners of the fortress and who added the new floors to the tower and built the second wall.

This outer wall is defended by 12 towers and the inner one by circular cubes.

Spectacular views of the city and the surrounding area are obtained from the fortress.

It is recommended to hire guided tours (price: 3 euros; children, free).

Tickets here.

sax castle

About 15 km south of Villena stands imposingly on a limestone ridge at about 500 meters above sea level, this spectacular fortress whose walls descend along the hillside.

At your feet, the town of Sax and the Vinalopó River.

The castle dates from the 12th century;

from that period is the square tower of rammed earth and of a single plant of the north part.

However, at the end of the 14th century, the great homage tower was built to the southwest, about 20 meters high, made of masonry and ashlar masonry in the reinforcements.

Currently, the castle is being remodeled, so there are no visits, but you can walk around the hill to admire its floor plan.

Castle of Elda

Another 10 km to the south, the historic center of Elda is home to this fortress of Islamic origin (12th and 13th centuries), declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

On a mound next to the Vinalopó River, the Muslim construction became a feudal castle in the 13th-16th centuries and a county fortress in the mid-19th century.

Although it is in a state of ruin, reconstruction work is currently being carried out, since archaeological remains have been found in it.

Inside you can see the great parade ground, the medieval and Renaissance chapel, the barbican, an underground cistern, the count's staircase and numerous palatial rooms.

The great wall has ten quadrangular towers from the Almohad period.

Visits with prior reservation on the phone 966 980 300.

Castle of Santa Barbara (Alicante)

38 km further south on the A-31, you reach the city of Alicante, crowned by this castle of Muslim origin (IX) located 166 meters above sea level on the summit of Mount Benacantil.

Considered one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, it has three enclosures from different periods at different heights.

In the highest part are the Torre del Homenaje and the oldest remains of the fortress, mostly from the 14th century.

In the intermediate enclosure are the most important rooms (16th century), such as the Philip II Hall, the Guard Corps, the Patio de Armas or the Baluarte de la Reina.

In the lower part (XVIII) is the so-called Bon Repós Ravelin, the outer defense of the castle.

The views of the city, the bay and the Mediterranean are incredible from anywhere in the fortress.

There are shuttle buses every 20 minutes from Plaza Gomez Ulla that arrive at the castle (1.45 euros/way).

Entry to the site is free.

Castle of Castalla

We resume the route back inland until we reach the town of Castalla, about 37 km to the northwest.

There, on a hill at an altitude of 780 m, stands one of the main and best preserved fortifications in the province of Alicante.

It has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and its structures go through various periods, from the 11th to the 16th century.

The three most important parts of this monument are the Palau, which is accessed through an intricate defensive system, the Patio de Armas, with sections of the wall, rooms and the cistern, and the Torre Grossa, a construction to the south of the walled enclosure. circular plant erected in 1529 (price: 3 euros; free up to 7 years).

Castle of Biar

The route ends 13 km to the north, in Biar, whose main attraction is the 12th-century castle, declared a National Monument and Site of Cultural Interest.

Located on a rocky hill at an altitude of 750 m, it preserves the Almohad vault from its origins.

A double walled and battlemented enclosure with its corresponding round passageway protects the master or homage tower, 19 m high, square and with three floors.

King Jaime l the Conqueror, after a six-month siege, seized this castle in 1245, which meant the end of the conquest of the kingdom of Valencia (price: 1 euros; visiting hours and reservations, on the phone 96 581 11 77).

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