SANTA BARBARA CASTLE

Dominating the historic town, the medieval fortress dates back to the ^11th century and was built by the Arabs. However, the castle bears the traces of all the peoples who settled in the city, and most of the present-day construction dates from the ^16th century. The fortress is defended by three walls, built at different heights and in three different periods. The highest, the torreta, contains the oldest remains of the fortress, most of which date back to the ^14th century. The middle one contains the largest outbuildings, built in the ^16th century, including the Philip II salon, the guardhouse and the patio de armas. In the lower enclosure, built in the ^18th century, you'll find the ravelin or half-moon, a classic piece of military fortification known as the Revellín del bon repós . There are also a number of educational activities. They're aimed primarily at children, but are open to everyone. At the top of the fortress, you'll enjoy magnificent views over the Bay of Alicante. The castle can be reached by car or on foot, or by elevator dug into the rock opposite Postiguet beach. We recommend taking the elevator to get there (from Calle Juan Bautista La Fora) and then returning to Alicante on foot, as the walk is very pretty. Before taking the elevator, be sure to take a look at the castle's rock. You'll be able to make out the shape of a face, in profile. This is the cara del moro, the Moor's face, one of the city's emblematic images.