Parc de l'Ereta

A landscaped park on the slopes of Mount Benacantil above Alicante's old quarter, opened in 2003, with terraced paths, benches and city views. It is a good sunset spot and a convenient starting point for walking up to Santa Bárbara Castle.

Parc de l'Ereta is a landscaped park on the slopes of Mount Benacantil, above Alicante's old quarter and just below Santa Bárbara Castle. It covers almost 7 hectares and opened on 14 April 2003. It was designed by the French architects Marc Bigarnet and Frédéric Bonnet. The slope was previously eroded, prone to landslides and inaccessible; the park reconnected the historic neighbourhoods with Benacantil and the castle. The terraces are planted with Mediterranean vegetation, including olive, orange and carob trees, pines and palms, as well as jacarandas and hibiscus. The route through the park starts at Plaza del Puente, is 1.6 km long and takes about an hour, with gradients of up to 20% in places. Along the way there are viewpoints such as Mirador Colina Alta and Jardín del Ángel, with views stretching to Cape Santa Pola, plus a water garden with papyrus and bamboo. The park's highest point, Umbral Sant Jordi, sits at 109 metres, and from there a short path leads to Santa Bárbara Castle. A restaurant stands in one of the highest parts of the park, and since 2005 there has also been a semi-underground exhibition hall, mainly devoted to contemporary art. Nearby are the 18th-century Santa Cruz hermitage and the Pozos de Garrigós, home to Alicante's Water Museum. The paths look out over the city, the port and the sea, and both Google and visitors point to the park as a good sunset spot. Visitors praise the views of the city and the castle, and reviews also note that the path links up with the streets of the El Barrio quarter. One visitor, however, complains of neglect and litter in the park. It is a convenient starting point for walking up to the castle, as visitors also point out.