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Historic neighborhood · Alicante, Comunidade Valenciana
Barrio de Santa Cruz
A neighborhood of white houses and flowered stairways on the slope of Monte Benacantil, above the old town, with sea views and access to Parque de la Ereta and the castle.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Barrio de Santa Cruz
The Barrio de Santa Cruz is the highest part of Alicante's old town, resting on Monte Benacantil, just below the castle. It is a neighborhood of medieval, popular origin, with low whitewashed houses, colorful doors and windows, narrow streets and stairways that climb in zigzag.
Residents decorate façades and steps with pots of geraniums, bougainvillea and cacti, giving the neighborhood the image of an Andalusian village within the city. At several points small viewpoints open onto the roofs, the port and the sea.
At the top is the Ermita de Santa Cruz, the chapel that gives the neighbourhood its name, from which one of the most watched Holy Week processions in Alicante departs, descending the narrow steps with the float on shoulders. Above the neighborhood begins Parque de la Ereta, which climbs the slope up to the castle.
The barrio is residential, with no shops or restaurants at the top; the bars are below, in El Barrio.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the sun lights the white façades, or when descending from the castle. On Holy Wednesday, the Santa Cruz procession often fills the steps.
How to get there
You go up from Plaza del Carmen or the Basílica de Santa María, a 10-minute walk from the Explanada. From the castle you descend via Parque de la Ereta.
Tip
Do the route from top to bottom: take the elevator up to the castle and descend through Ereta and Santa Cruz. Remember it is a residential neighborhood; keep your voice down and do not climb on the steps of the houses.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Barrio de Santa Cruz
Does Santa Cruz have restaurants?
Hardly any. It’s a residential neighborhood; bars and restaurants are just below, in El Barrio, near the co-cathedral.
How to go up from Santa Cruz to the castle?
Via Parque de la Ereta, a path of gardens and viewpoints that climbs the slope of Monte Benacantil.
When is the Santa Cruz procession?
It usually takes place on Holy Wednesday, descending the neighborhood steps. Check the Holy Week schedule.