The new multimedia and environmental space for tourists at Santa Bárbara Castle is taking shape

El Castillo de Santa Bárbara in Alicante will soon have a newly renovated and modernised access. The City Council plans to transform the old 'forest engineer's house' into the new visitor reception centre, providing information to enhance tourist visits and ease congestion at the lift entrance.

This new centre aims to be an additional attraction to increase footfall at the most visited monument in the region, Santa Bárbara Castle. It will also showcase the environmental richness of Mount Benacantil, upon which the various bastions and walls stand.

The building, located at the initial steps of Benacantil, between Vázquez de Mella Street and Doctor Más Magro Square, behind the Alicante Tram access, currently functions as an Environmental Education Centre. However, the Local Government Board has already taken the first step towards its transformation into the new visitor reception centre.

Thus, the body approved the assignment of this building to the Tourism area from the Environment Department. Following this, the contracting committee proceeded this week to open the envelopes revealing the companies and proposals aiming to convert the 'forest engineer's house' into this new multimedia and environmental space for Santa Bárbara Castle.

This visitor reception centre at the castle will combine solutions to address tourist needs and environmental education. The interior of the building will be renovated, and the surrounding gardens will be enhanced. Ultimately, the company awarded the contract will work on a reform covering more than 13,000 square metres with a base budget of 1.6 million euros.

Seven companies have put themselves forward to draft the execution project for this new visitor reception centre at Santa Bárbara Castle. The space will become an information point for tourists about the fortress and the environmental wealth of Mount Benacantil.

The seven companies that have submitted their proposals include the joint venture of Antonio García Bueno-Jorge Gabriel Molinero, the joint venture of Efealcubo Arquitectura and A-Ingenia Research and Consulting, San Juan Arquitectura, Jesús Navarro García, Acroteri Arquitectura e Ingeniería, Escalar Estudio de Arquitectura, and Hijona Ravski.

This project has a budget of 1,634,000 euros and is part of the Destination Sustainability Plan, executed with funds from the Central, Regional, and Local Governments. The visitor reception centre at Santa Bárbara Castle is framed within the Competitiveness axis 4.

The future visitor reception centre at Santa Bárbara Castle will emerge following a comprehensive reform of the 'forest engineer's house'. Among the planned spaces is an area with various counters, including one adapted and accessible, to provide information to tourists.

The space will also feature areas designated for internal work, with offices, meeting tables, storage rooms, and a dining area with a small kitchen for employees.

The final area will be the multimedia zone. Here, benches and seats will be installed to introduce visitors to multiple stories, projected using multimedia technology such as a 'video wall'. It is also designed for the lending of tablets and the use of virtual reality glasses.

The visitor reception centre at the castle will also have a 'merchandising' shop offering various souvenirs about the city of Alicante, as well as digital kiosks for ticket purchases.

Thus, the space will fulfil a dual purpose: a point of attention for visitors arriving from pedestrian access at Mount Benacantil or by vehicle, where they will be provided with information about the fortress and its activities, and dissemination of the environmental and scenic wealth of the surroundings.