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The Haunted Face in the Rocks Under Santa Barbara Castle

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On a white beach in Alicante, Santa Barbara Castle sits atop a rocky hill as it has done for centuries. There are legends of princesses and her forbidden love as well as ghosts haunting its ancient halls. 

Spain is a country rich in history and culture. Its stunning castles are a testament to its rich heritage and architectural brilliance. However, it’s not just the beauty of these castles that fascinates people, but also the stories behind them. 

Spain’s haunted castles are shrouded in mystery and intrigue, with tales of ghosts, spirits, and unexplained phenomena that continue to captivate visitors. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey through some of Spain’s most haunted castles and explore the eerie tales of the ghosts that inhabit them. 

Postiguet Beach: Today, beachgoers can see the supposed haunted castle from the sea, and the face that are etched into the stone according to the legend.

With its rich history dating back over a millennium, this imposing structure has stood the test of time, serving as a silent witness to countless tales of triumph, tragedy, and intrigue. 

Historical background of Santa Barbara Castle

Santa Barbara Castle has a rich and storied past that dates back to the 9th century when it was built by the Moors. Over the centuries, it has witnessed numerous battles, conquests, and changes of ownership. In the 13th century, the castle fell into Christian hands during the Reconquista, marking the end of Moorish rule in the region.

Throughout its history, the castle has served as a strategic stronghold for various rulers, including the Kingdom of Aragon and the Crown of Castile. Its commanding position atop Mount Benacantil offered unparalleled views of the surrounding landscape, making it an ideal defensive fortress.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

During the 18th century, the castle underwent significant renovations, transforming it into a military barracks and fortification. The castle’s defensive walls were reinforced, and additional structures, such as the Governor’s House and the Chapel of Santa Barbara, were added.

Situated just a stone’s throw away from Santa Barbara Castle lies the stunning Postiguet Beach. This picturesque stretch of golden sand is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling city.

With its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking views of the castle perched on the hilltop, Postiguet Beach provides the perfect backdrop for relaxation and unwinding. The image of the mountain from the beach resembles a face, which is why it is called “the face of the Moor” and is an icon of the city of Alicante.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Santa Barbara Castle boasts a unique architectural blend of Moorish, Roman, and Gothic influences. Its strategic location on a hilltop allowed for excellent visibility and defense against potential invaders. The castle’s design takes full advantage of the natural landscape, with its walls seamlessly integrated into the rocky outcrop.

The Princess with her Two Suitors

Santa Barbara Castle’s history is shrouded in legends and folklore. One such story revolves around an Arab princess who resided within the castle during the times of Moorish rule. The princess, beautiful and sought after by many suitors, found herself torn between two men from rival families. The castle became the arena for a fierce competition as the suitors battled for her affection and the right to win her hand in marriage.

The princess Cantara had two men fighting for her hand in marriage. One of them was Ali, a simple man that was favored by the princess, but didn’t really have anything to offer but his heart. The other was Almanzor who was a famous warrior from a wealthy family in Cordoba that she didn’t really know. 

Cantaras father, the caliph , disagreed with the princess’ choice and wouldn’t let her marry Ali before he proved himself. 
He decided that she would marry the one who emerged victorious in a daring challenge that tested their bravery and loyalty. He sent Almanzor to India with the mission to return with spices and treasures for the kingdom. To Ali, the caliph gave the order to build a ditch that could bring fresh water from the mountains to the city of Alicante. The one that completed the task first would be the winner and get to marry the caliphs daughter. 

Almanzor set sail to India to complete his mission and was away for a long time. Ali started digging, but would spend the nights with the princess, slowly winning her over by reciting poems and singing her love songs. They fell in love and for the princess, there was only one winner. 

Months went by and Almanzor returned with his ships loaded with spices, gold, ivory and silk, just as he had been ordered to. And he was also the first one to have completed his mission and the caliph saw him as the winner. 

He ordered his daughter to marry Almanzor, but her heart was already given away. Ali didn’t want to make her choice any harder and chose to jump from the top of the castle. It is said that the face you can see in the mountain is from the impact from his fall, his turban and all. Princess Cantara couldn’t go on without her lover and wouldn’t marry the suitor. She chose to jump after her lover to join him at the feet of the mountain. 

The king was sorry and his grief for his daughter turned him into a just ruler to never make the same mistake again. The story about the two lovers spread and to honor their love, they joined their name together and named the city for Alcantara. Time went by and soon the name turned into Alicante and is still the name of the city. 

Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices arguing in the dead of night, and some claim to have seen a ghostly figure lurking in the shadows that they connect to this legend of the two lovers. But it is not the only ghosts said to roam the halls of the castle.

More Haunted Ghost stories

Another ghost story told about this ancient castle is about Nicolas Peris who was the governor of Santa Barbara and protector of the castle when he was alive. In 1256 there was a huge battle about the fortress, and Peris was fighting for his life to not let the castle fall into the hands of Jaime II. 

Although he gave his all, he was soon defeated and died in the battle, legend says he fell with the keys to the castle clenched tightly in his hands. The only way they could get the keys out from his cold hands was to cut it off. 

It is said that on some nights you can still hear the former governor wailing throughout the halls as he is still grieving losing the battle and his beloved castle. 

The Legends of Santa Barbara Castle

As you walk through the ancient halls of Santa Barbara Castle, surrounded by centuries of history and legends, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe and intrigue. The castle’s ghostly secrets are an integral part of its allure, drawing visitors from far and wide who seek a glimpse into the supernatural.

From the Arab princess and her two suitors to the restless spirits that haunt the castle’s corridors, Santa Barbara Castle is a place where the past and present collide. It invites us to explore the mysteries that lie within its walls and contemplate the enduring legacy of those who came before us.

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References:

Santa Barbara Castle: 1000 years of History – ALICANTE City & Beach

The Castle of Santa Bárbara: history and legend of Alicante

Castillo de Santa Bárbara – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

The 10 haunted castles in Spain you must visit – Tourtravel & More

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The Haunted Preventorio de Aigües in Alicante

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The former wellness hotel and sanatorium called Preventorio de Aigües is said to have healing thermal water as well as the ruins of the buildings are said to have attracted ghosts. This abandoned building close to Alicante is popular with paranormal seekers and ghosts alike. 

Among the many haunted places around the world, Haunted Hospital in Spain is known for its eerie atmosphere. The ghost that is said to linger in the hospital has been a topic of discussion for horror enthusiasts for a long time. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The hospital has a dark history, and it’s not hard to imagine the spirits of those who perished there still wandering through its corridors.

The Time as a Wellbeing Hotel

This 19th century building high up in the mountains 25 kilometers from the city of Alicante in Spain was originally built as a luxury hotel in Aguas de Busot by Count de Casa de Rojas and Marquis de Bosh for the rich and wealthy. 

The hotel was known as Hotel Miramar Winter Station and was built out with many buildings, chapels, a casino, a playground and sport facilities. It was a state of luxury, and the guests were all from high society where even the King and Queen of Spain visited.

Haunted Building: the Preventorio de Aigües now abandoned is thought to be haunted by the children that used to live there when it was used as a sanatorium//Source: Jesús Alenda/wikimedia

Today the only building still standing from it is the building from 1816 designed by the architect Pedro Garcia Faria and the once glorious place is now only an abandoned shell of what it once was. And throughout the years, it truly was a lot.   

The Civil War Closed the Door of the Hotel

But the story took a sharp turn in the later years. In 1930 the luxury hotel closed its doors as a hotel and spa. According to the stories, it is said that the owner, Marquis de Bosch lost the hotel in a poker game.

At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Preventorio de Aguas de Busot was turned into a sanatorium for children. The idea was to take uninfected children and keep them away to prevent them from being infected as well as to accommodate orphans. 

When the disease started to die out the hospital was abandoned in the late 1960s and remains so to this day. 

The Building as a Sanatorium

A sanatorium is an old name for specialized hospitals that were made for specific ailments. They were often built in the countryside with plenty of fresh air in a healthy climate isolated from the outside world. Sanatoriums across Europe and America were very popular to treat tuberculosis until the discovery of antibiotics. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from old hospitals like Hauntingly Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital, Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital or Hauntings at the Weston State Hospital or the Trans-Allegheny Asylum

It could however also be a place for people to heal from things like alcoholism, nervous diseases like hysteria or emotional exhaustions. After medical advances the use of sanatoriums declined and many were abandoned in the mid 1900s often and has since gained a haunted reputation. 

The Healing Thermal Water

The water in the area was thought to contain healing properties all the way back to Roman times and it is also chronicled by Arabs that resided in Spain in medieval times. 

They have talked about the good water in the hot springs found in the area, making it a perfect spot for a wellbeing hotel. It is also a place perfect for where mysterious things happen.

The Haunting in the Abandoned building

Now the building is abandoned and the only visitors are those seeking out the paranormal rumors and trying to investigate if they are true or not. In 2005 they tried to install some fences around the place, but no fences have ever held the most intense people out. 

People that have visited the place say that you can find many secret tunnels from the war leading as far to the neighboring town called Campello. There is even paperwork from both the time it served as a hotel as well as a hospital where even old patient files lie scattered around in the ruins. They have also come back claiming to have seen a ghost or two. 

Inside the old hospital it is said you can hear whistles while a translucent figure is climbing the ruined stairs.

It is said the place is haunted by the children that ended their life here, even though there are not really any recordings of deaths related to tuberculosis in the building. The legend persists and there are many who claim to have seen the ghosts of children around the ruins. 

Although no one really died of tuberculosis, there were recorded deaths of fires, sunstrokes and falls. 

The Woman in White

It is also said that a woman in white is seen crying when calamities approach. According to the legend, she could be seen in the reflection in a mirror that hung by the stairs to the first floor.  If you saw her laughing and crying at the same time, it was all good. But if you saw her only sobbing it meant something bad was going to happen. 

She is most often seen walking around the building at night and some claim that was  the wife of the Count of Casas Rojas, the former owner of the hotel and spas. Some of the variations of the legends says that she used to reside inside of a mirror, but when the mirror broke, she escaped and is now walking freely around.

According to the locals, the staff that used to work there used black magic in the church in the building and there are rumors that the place was also the place for a sect with ill intentions. 

The Future of the Sanatorium

Through the knocked down fences, the dark building stands looming on the hill. 

What will happen with the building is unclear, as it has been the topic of debate and in court for decades now. Some want to construct a hotel again, perhaps turn it into a museum. Some even want to tear the entire building to the ground. 

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References:


El preventorio de Aigües de Bussot – Mitos y Leyendas en la provincia de Alicante
Leyendas urbanas: fantasmas en Alicante – Hoja del Lunes
Blog escrito desde Alicante: PREVENTORIO AGUAS DE BUSOT (2ª PARTE)
El preventorio de Aigües, lugar maldito donde habita lo paranormal
El abandonado preventorio de Aigües de Busot: sanatorio de tuberculosos
El Preventorio de Aguas de Busot en Alicante | Excursiones
Preventorio de Aguas de Busot: Siniestro Levante | Traveler
Preventorio de Aguas de Busot – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Road trip through the gloomiest haunted houses in Spain
Visiting Spain’s Most Haunted Locations | Right Casa Estates