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The most beautiful castles in the province of Alicante are of course subjective. However, there is broad agreement about which castles should be on that list. Before we briefly review them, it is useful to know that the list shows that the 12th century was the golden age for building castles. That was during the seven centuries of Moorish rule in Spain.
For those who want to follow part or all of the castle route, the number of kilometres each castle is located in brackets from Torrevieja.
1. Biar (102). Dates from the 12th century. It consists of two parts. A semi-circular enclosure surrounded by four towers and a part with space for four cubic structures and the 'homage tower'. The latter tower is the architectural highlight of the complex and reaches a height of 19 metres. Situated on a rocky hill, it offers a magnificent view.
2. Villena (95). The castle La Atalaya. Also from the 12th century. Its exact history is unclear, but a common theory is that it was built on the remains of a Roman villa. It has 12 towers along the outer wall. That is why it was used as a watchtower castle. It was a checkpoint between Castile and the kingdom of Aragon. Many cultures have disputed it and that is clearly visible in the architecture.
3. Sax (84). The castle in this medieval community dates from the 14th century and was built on the remains of a 12th century castle of Islamic origin. It is beautifully situated on a rocky spur in the centre of Sax and is an eye-catcher at 524 metres above sea level. The castle has very thick walls and two towers. It was actually a fortress. The remains of it clearly show that.
4. Elda (75). Also from the 12th and 13th centuries. The castle is located on a hill in the centre and near the Vinalopo river. After being used as a feudal castle from the 13th to the 16th century, it fell into disrepair. Restoration work since the end of the 19th century has brought back some of its former glory. Some interesting features include the Renaissance chapel, the enclosure walls, the barbican and the round towers. It is also an archaeological site.
5. Petrer (76). Built at the same time as the castle in nearby Elda, it is built in a mountainous area and has stunning views of the Vinalopo River valley.
The complex includes a cave house, a chapel for weddings and a small museum with ancient finds. In recent decades, two major restoration works have been carried out to return the castle to its original splendor.
6. Novelda (57). La Mola Castle, 3 kilometres from Novelda. It rises on a small plain 360 metres above sea level. It is of Islamic origin from the 12th century. Unfortunately, several parts are badly damaged or completely missing. Striking is the triangular tower and a square plan.
7. Elche (46). The Altamira castle is located near the Vinalopo river in Elche. Also called Alcazar de la Senoris. Its age is unknown. In its current state, it was built in the 15th century by a local nobleman. It is believed that it was built on the remains of a 12th century Almohad castle that was important as a defense of the city. The design is polygonal with a beautiful quadrangular main tower. At the end of the civil war, it was used as a concentration camp for Republican prisoners.
The castle route is completed with a visit to Denia (160) and the Santa Barbara castle in Alicante (50). For more information on these, see here and here respectively.
