Standing on the top of Mount Benacantil at a height of 166 metres, stands the castle of Santa Barbara, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Spain, built in the ninth century by Muslims. The castle can be reached by a car and if your enthusiasm and fitness allows you, the walk from Plaza de Carmen is a sight in itself, through some narrow winding streets. If both these options do not suit you, you can take the elevator in the core of Mount Benacantil itself.
The origins of the castle date to the 9th century at the time of Muslim control of the Iberian Peninsula. On December 4, 1248, the castle was captured by Castilian forces led by Alfonso of Castile, later King Alfonso X. It was named after Saint Barbara, on whose feast day the castle was captured. From the 18th century the military role of the castle has declined and it was used sometimes as a prison. It was only in 1963, that the castle was opened to the public and elevators were installed inside the mountain. The elevator runs from the ground level near the main road of Avenue de Juan Bautista Lafora (38°20’48.17″N 0°28’36.71″W) and stops at two levels in the castle.
Entry to the castle is free. A round-way trip by the elevator from the ground floor costs € 2.40. Tourists can take help from the maps provided and if you travel between the two castle levels, you do not have to pay anything extra.
From April to September, the castle is open from 10:00 to 22:00, while the elevator runs from 10:00 to 20:00. From October to March, the castle is open from 10:00 to 20:00, and the elevator from 10:00 to 19:30.
