Mount Benacantil

Mount Benacantil is a mount that dominates the urban part of Alicante, and is the characteristic image of the city. The mount name appears as Banu-l-Qatil in the work of Muslim geographer Al-Idrisi in the 12th century, but it is possible that this is an error of transcription because it does not make sense in Arabic.

Photo: Kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Type: Mountain with an elevation of 167 metres
Description: mountain
Also known as: “Benacantil”

Places of Interest

Highlights include Santa Bàrbara Castle and Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art.

Santa Bàrbara Castle

Photo: Helmlechner, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Santa Bàrbara Castle is a fortification in the center of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain. It stands on Mount Benacantil bordering the sea, which gave it enormous strategic value since from it you can see the entire bay of Alicante and its land surroundings.

Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum

Photo: Joanbanjo, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art is a municipal museum in Alicante, Spain. It exhibits 20th-century and contemporary art. Created in 1976 thanks to Eusebio Sempere, and reopened in 2011 after a major renovation, the museum now consists of three permanent collections of about 800 art pieces.

Basilica of Santa Maria, Alicante

Church

Photo: Kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Basilica of Santa Maria is the oldest active church in Alicante, Spain. It was built in Valencian Gothic style between the 14th and 16th centuries over the remains of a mosque.