El Castell de Guadalest
Nestled in the northern part of the Marina Baixa, El Castell de Guadalest makes for a picture-perfect postcard of a town that has retained the most typical features of the settlements of Alicante's interior, greatly appealing to visitors of the Costa Blanca.
Located on top of a cliff at an altitude of 595m, its houses nestled in the rock dominate an extensive valley, framed by the mountains of Xortà and Serrella to the north and the Sierra Aitana to the south.
Listed as a Historical-Artistic Site, the town itself is divided into two separate neighbourhoods: the castle, whose walls preserve the medieval atmosphere of its interior, and El Arrabal, built later, when the population increased and moved to the base of the mountain.
The first is accessed via a tunnel excavated in the rock that serves as the entrance to the castle area. Perched on the rock, note in particular the bell tower which used to be part of the parish church. Next to it, we find the remains of an ancient fortification known as the Alcozaiba, built by the early settlers to defend the village.
At the highest point we find the remains of the castle of San José, conquered from the Muslims by Jaime I and fortified during the reign of Pedro IV. Earthquakes and the War of Succession were to blame for its destruction, although still today several stretches of walls, the cistern and the keep remain standing.
After climbing up the stairs that lead us to the old quarter and passing through the entrance, we find ourselves in front of the manor house of the Orduña family, with their coat of arms on the door. Next to it stands the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin, built in the eighteenth century.
Wander along the main street of the town to admire the architecture of its single-storey houses, white and bright. In the square at the end of this street, we find the City Hall building, formerly a prison and law courts.
The Arrabal neighbourhood at the foot of the castle, welcomes the many visitors who come to discover this magical village in the interior of the province.
Practical information
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El Castell de Guadalest is a small municipality located in the interior of the province of Alicante. Its biggest attraction is its location. The sight of the bell tower and castle ruins perched on the rock take the first-time visitor's breath away.
This is our identity and what sets us apart from other tourist destinations.
Our magnificent views, photographed and filmed by millions of tourists from all over the world, are our calling card.
But that's not all: we have museums with very unusual collections, an exquisite gastronomy and local festivals that remind us of the pleasure we take in keeping our traditions alive over the years.
El Castell de Guadalest is a unique experience that is hard to forget.
