Alicante is gearing up for a historic weekend: Santa Barbara Castle will once again be "under two flags"

From December 6th to 8th, the Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante will host its traditional "Santa Barbara Under Two Flags" historical reenactment weekend. Organizers promise three days of free immersive events, theatrical battles, and themed areas that will occupy all levels of the fortress. The event coincides with December 4th – the feast day of Santa Barbara, after whom the fortress was named after its conquest in 1248.

What visitors will see: Guests will be able to travel through different eras: from the medieval assault of the 13th century to the fierce battles of the 18th century. Key scenes include the capture of the castle by Infante Alfonso, the future Alfonso X the Wise, and the events of the War of the Spanish Succession, when Alicante became the scene of international conflict.

Reenactors will recreate military camps, artillery crews, street scenes, and battle sequences, including cannon fire, smoke effects, and spectator participation in safe, interactive episodes.

Historical Background: The British and Spanish in the Battle of Santa Barbara

One of the most dramatic episodes in the fortress's history occurred between 1706 and 1709, during the War of the Spanish Succession. At that time, Alicante became the target of a struggle between supporters of the Austrian pretender Charles III and the Bourbon troops supporting Philip V.

1706 – British Landing and Capture of the Castle

In the spring of 1706, an Anglo-Dutch squadron under Admiral John Leake landed troops in Alicante, supporting the Austrians. The castle garrison, weak and isolated, capitulated after a brief resistance. The British stationed a garrison of about a thousand soldiers in the fortress.

1708–1709 — The Bourbon Siege and the Explosion that Rocked the City. In 1708, Bourbon troops began a brutal siege of Alicante, using artillery and mines. The most famous episode was the demolition operation led by the French engineer Jean de Baudoin. On February 19, 1709, Bourbon troops detonated a mine under the Salouette Bastion: a powerful explosion destroyed part of the wall and the British positions. Despite heavy losses, the garrison continued to resist, but was forced to capitulate in April.

Contemporaries described the heroism of both sides: the British stood under continuous bombardment, while the Spanish and French besiegers crawled to the walls under fire, digging mines by hand.

Check the exact times of events.