Castillo Santa Barbara, Alicante
Views from the path to the castle
and looking across Alicante to the sea
This could take some time
Home from home, a smart new villa on a hill over looking the Costa Blanca coast. Situated behind Sant Joan and El Campello, with views on a good day of Benidorm and Alicante.
You can see the mountains to your left, looking up the coast, still with snow on them!
Directly infront you can see the costal towns of Sant Joan, El Campello and the Mediterranean Sea
Where is everybody? Okay, it's not exactly sunbathing weather ...
... but I was starting to get the feeling that this was probably the only time I'd see a Costa Blanca beach this empty!
Towering over the city of Alicante, since the 10th Century, is the Castle of Santa Barbara.
Leading to the park around Monte Benacantil, the mountian on which the castle sits.
Alicante has grown up all around the Castle, here is a picture of the Bull Ring.
Alicante is still a thriving port town, as well as a popular tourist destination.
The castle is still a long way off, only one option but to climb... now where did I put that Sound of Music song book?
Humming "Climb every mountain". It's 166m above sea level at the very top! The castle originates from the Moorish period in the 10th Century and was constantly changing hands and playing an important role in Spanish history.
the majority of the mediaeval buildings inside of the castle were destroyed during the 16th Century when the Bourbon army dug and blew up a tunnel with gun powder under it's southern side.
The castle once had it's own mill and bakery.
looking down on the beach and sea front of Alicante
The EU funded Castle Approach Gardens
More of the landscaped gardens below the castle.
A fortified central command post!
after a tour of the Caves of Canelobre (no camera's allowed in the caves) a quick trip across the snow covered mountains to Benidorm
Not exactly ice cream weather, slightly warmer here than in the mountains. Empty beach .. have you ever been here in the summer?
on the left, is Benidorm and on the right is Alicante. You can see a satellite in orbit (the white star like thing in the centre) and the first rays of sun light.
Time to pack up and head for the airport.
