The Santa Barbara Castle is the ideal place to enjoy spectacular views of the Mediterranean with your family, your friends or your partner, whilst taking part in a variety of the most captivating activities.
Learn about the castle’s history by joining a guided tour, let your imagination run wild with the dramatised visits performed by extraordinary characters who live in the castle, and let yourself be entertained by their stories.
What’s more, you can visit three exhibitions in Alicante’s glorious fortress: Playmobil Figures, Elements of Torture and Death, and The Treasure of Villena.
This summer the Santa Barbara Castle has extended its opening hours. It is open from 10am to midnight (see timetables for guided visits, dramatised visits and exhibitions).
Dramatised visits
From 4th July to 31st August
Discover the history of the Santa Bárbara Castle in a unique way with dramatised visits. From the 4th July you can be entertained by new period characters who bring to life and dramatise different moments and historical events of the evolution of the fortress. It is the perfect way to discover the nooks and crannies of the Castle and the characters who have lived there throughout history. Jacinta “la Emperadora”, who lived in the fortress when the Castle became a shelter for beggars; Remegio “El Bombas”, an artilleryman in the War of Independence; Doña Violante, wife of Alfonso Xand queen consort of the Castle, and Marshal Claude d’Asfeld,protagonist of the famous mine explosion during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Summer timetable:
From Wednesdays to Sundays
● First showing at 8.15pm
●Second showing at 10.00pm
Prices:
Adults 5 euros and children aged 4 to 12 years old: 3 euros
An annual permanent guided tour calendar has been set up, so that any visitor to the Castle can take a guided tour and enjoy the fortress, as long as there is a minimum of 4 people for the tour.
The language of the permanent tours will be the majority language of the group taking the tour at that time (Spanish, Valencian or English).
If you would like to visit the Santa Bárbara Castle at your own pace and are aged over 16 years old, you can hire an audio-guide for €2.00 within office opening times.
In the Santa Bárbara Castle you can also enjoy three very interesting exhibitions, located in different rooms in the Castle.
Exhibition: Playmobil Figures
The Santa Bárbara Castle in Alicante is currently showing the exhibition “Playmobil Figures”, which brings together a selection of 800 Playmobil characters and 1,200 objects, which together reproduce 10 scenes of Alicante’s history.
The panorama reproduces 10 scenes of Alicante’s history, from antiquity up to the present day, and features Iberians, Romans, the medieval era, pirate attacks on our coasts, the Huerta defence towers, the notable role of the fortress, etc.
This imaginary journey takes us up to the present day, and shows us the Puerta Ferrisa, the beaches, the port and the Explanada itself, among other enclaves.
Exhibition: Elements of Torture and Death in the Middle Ages
The Santa Bárbara Castle is currently showing “Elements of Torture and Death”, an exhibition that takes us on a spellbinding journey through the history of the most feared medieval torture methods. A collection of items and instruments (cages, hand and feet traps…) making up an exhibition of the oldest methods of torture used to punish criminals and heretics during the inquisition. It is a unique way to relive the toughest phase of the medieval era.
Location: Basement of the Castle’s Guard Service.
Exhibition: The Treasure of Villena
The Treasure of Villena, dating back some 3,000 years, is composed of 50 vessels, bracelets and objects, the silver and gold elements of which weigh more than 10.5 kilos. This treasure is considered to be the second of its type in Europe, after that of Micenas (Greece). It is a true wonder from ancient times.
The exhibition in the Castle is rounded off with 21 exhibition panels about the life and work of the archaeologist José María Soler, who worked on this fascinating find.
Opening times
From Monday to Sunday
From 10.00 am to 2.30 pm
From 4.00pm to 8.00pm
Ticket prices
One entry ticket. Price valid for all three exhibitions.
Children (younger than 6 years of age)
Adults (older than 6 years of age)
Location: The Castle’s tavern.
Activities
This year, the cultural programme of Santa Bárbara Castle includes new items such as a creative children’s space in the Almacén de la Pólvora, the re-enactment of medieval knights with evening meal, moonlit nights, fencing exhibitions.
Use of the lift will be free from 7.30pm to 11.30pm.
OPENING OF THE CREATIVE SPACE “EL POLVORÍN”
The Castle presents a project of activities for children and families with didactic elements, decorated with volumes from the III Illustrated Children’s Album Fair.
It has a specific schedule of craft workshops, story-telling, squire school and encouraging children to read. All of these activities are carried out around the subject of the Castle, with specific vocabulary, legends, castle-themed books, etc….
Open every day during the summer programme of Vive tu Castillo, and in the mornings during the school year, as well as an intensive schedule on weekends.
HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT SHOW – MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS IN THE CASTLE
Dates: 8th, 9th and 10th August. In the Plaza de Armas and Salón Felipe II
Combo: Medieval knight show + Medieval-themed evening meal + dramatised visit + free access to the Castle’s temporary exhibitions (Playmobil + Treasure of Villena + Tortures)
A historical re-enactment of the knights’ medieval way of life: show with jousts, tournaments, …
The atmosphere and decoration of the whole Castle is medieval
Entry to the restaurant El Sorell, with previous booking
FULL MOON NIGHTS
All of the activities take place in the Plaza de Armas starting at 9.30pm, free of charge.MAILERS: 21st July. Previously known as El Pacto they have toured around Spain and Latin America and played hundreds of concerts, but like good Alicante natives, they are looking forward to playing in our Castle. Mailers, with an alternative rock-indie sound, are busier than ever presenting their first disc as Mailers, “Materia”.
GIGANTES: 22nd August: This band doesn’t stop growing and has been included among the bands selected to feature at the Fogueres concerts, playing in front of thousands of people in the Plaza de Toros in Alicante. Bigger than ever, they are presenting their disc “Todo va a cambiar”.
Opening of all the Castle rooms until midnight, including MUSA Museum.
Chill Out zone with themed DJ
ALACANT ROCK Festival complete their performance in the Castle after these full moon concerts, with two other shows.
LA RUE : 3rd August
ROSY FINCH: 24th August. This band’s most important influences are grunge, alternative rock, stoner, and the riot grrl movement of the 90s. Having recorded their first EP “Wolves Waiting”, they will treat us to a quieter acoustic set in the Castle, yet staying true to their rock style.
HISTORICAL FENCING EXHIBITIONS
All the activities take place in the Plaza de Armas starting at 9.30pm from 13th to 27th July.
Project in collaboration with the Elda Hall of Arms and the Valencian Fencing Federation
At present, in Spain there is only one Hall of Historical Fencing in the city of Elda, which is under the auspices of the Valencian Fencing Federation.
The Elda Hall of Arms is dedicated to the practice and study of historical fencing from the second half of the 17th century and is the first hall of this kind to be established in our country.
Historical fencing is therefore becoming consolidated in the community as another official discipline within competitive fencing, with the épée, foil and sabre.
The exhibition is divided into three sections representing duals from the second half of the 17th century, fights and technical explanations.
In the Plaza de Armas, épée and foil fights are held as well as workshops for child and family audiences.
DANCE AND CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCES IN THE PLAZA DE ARMAS
All the activities take place in the Plaza de Armas starting at 9.30pm
In collaboration with the “Oscar Esplá” Higher Music Conservatory a season of classical music performed by the most outstanding Conservatory students will be held on Sundays throughout July and August:
July dates: 14 and 28
August dates: 4/11/18/25 and Saturday 31st.
The teaching staff and students of the Higher Conservatory of Dance will also present the following performances:
Ballroom dancing: 12th July and 23rd August
Contemporary dance: 19th July and 2nd August
Flamenco: 26th July and 16th August.
MARKET SELLING CRAFTS AND TYPICAL ALICANTE PRODUCTS
In collaboration with the Provincial Artisan Association of Alicante. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover typical regional products, crafts, ceramics, jewellery and leather goods.
From 6.10pm to 11.30pm
PRICES
Prices of guided tours
Ordinary price:
Adults (16-64 years of age):3 Euros
Groups of more than 20 people: 20 Euros
Reduced prices:
Children less than 6 years of age: 1.5 Euros
Children (6-16 years of age): 1.50 Euros
Disabled people: 1.50 Euros
Prices of dramatised visits
Children aged more than 12 years of age: 5 euros
Children (4-12 years of age): 3 euros
Children less than 4 years of age: Free
Audio-guide service
Adults from 16 years of age: 2 euros
20 Euro deposit or identity card or passport
Opening hours of the Castle
From 4th July to 30th August 2013
Open from monday to sunday, from 10.00 am to 00.00am
FREE ACCES
Lift:
Opened from 10.00 am to 11.30 pm
Price: 2.50 euros ( From 7.30 pm to 11.30 pm Free entrance)
More info:
Castillo Santa Bárbara
Phone: 0034- 965 152 969
Concejalía de Cultura
Plaza de Quijano, nº 2 (Old town)
Phone : 0034-965.14.71.60