Castle and Historical Centre
Starting point: Plaza de la Constitución.
The main point of visit, on which we will focus in this itinerary, is the Castle of Dénia.
We have two options to access the castle from the Plaza de la Constitución:
The first, would be to climb the stairs next to the Town Hall, located in the street Hospital, cross the street of the Bretxa and continue climbing the next flight of stairs located on the left, and we will meet at the end of the street Sant Francesc, where looking to the right we will see the entrance to the Castle.
The second option to reach the Castle from the Plaza de la Constitución, would be to continue on Loreto street and the first street on the right, Olivera street, both of the historic center of Dénia, also going up towards the end of Sant Francesc street, and on the right we will have the entrance to the Castle.
We can see in both sides of the entrance gate: the Torre Roja, (Red Tower), a defensive tower from the 15th century, owing its name from the local reddish sandstone used to built it, and the Torre del Cos de Guàrdia, (Guardian Corps Tower) from the Muslim period (12th c.) although very much reformed in the 16th and 17th centuries, used as a lookout by the guardian corps who were in charge of surveillance of the entrance gate.
The entrance to the Castle is known as the Portal de la Vila, (town's gate), of Almohade style (12th c.), with posterior reforms. Outside, we find "arcos apuntados" (pointed arches) of Almohade style and inside, we find an "arco de boveda de cañón" (barrel vaulted arch), of which parts of the original part still remain.
This entrance connected the Muslim medina or town, with the castle.
Once inside the castle and next to the ticket office we find the Torre del Consell, (Council Tower) from the Christian period (15th c.). The Town's Council met in this tower to organise, debate and take decisions, although a secondary defensive function is clearly defined by cavities which were used by artillery.
From this point, we have two possibilities to go up to the top or to subsequently go down: the paved road and the cobbled way (on the left).
If we take the paved road we shall go through part of the area where the Vila Vella (14th c.), was situated in the Christian period. All this area, where the Al-bacar stood in Muslim times, became a part of the town well sheltered in this period.
During the ascent we'll be astonished by the magnificent views of Dénia spreading before us with parts of the city and port, the Montgó Natural Park, beaches and coves, etc. spreading before us.
Along the cobbled way, main street of Vila Vella, that connected it to the upper enclosure, the Palau, we can discover in addition to the views of the other part of the city, the Punta del Diamante, defensive stronghold from the 17th century, of Renaissance style, the Baluard, defensive bulwark from the 18th century and the Portal del Baluard, of Islamic origin, which has three arches from different eras, highlighting the horseshoe Arabic arch.
In the upper part of the castle, we find the Explanada del Governador (Governor's Esplanade) and the Palau del Governador (Governor's Palace) , from the 17th century, which was part of the complex of the Palace of the Marquises of Dénia.
Once we leave the Castle,we find the second point of visit: Les Roques neighbourhood, near the Historical City Centre.
