Costa Blanca, Benidorm’s Castillois ‘living history’

BENIDORM’S emblematic Castillo is open once more to the public. The archaeologists who looked for -and found -the remains of the castle that gave the headland its name, have finally finished their work. At first glance the resort’s most-photographedbeauty spot has regained its former appearance although visitors are also able to appreciate the results of the excavations. Part of the 14th century walls are now visible, together with the water cisternand a section of an 18th century stairway that once led to the castle’s upper floors. Other vestiges of the past include part of the tower on the castle’s eastern, Levante side. All of these and more can be viewed through reinforced glass let into the ground,which has been repaved to mark out the floorplan of the castle as it was in the 18th century. “This site is the living history of Benidorm,” said Benidorm mayor Toni Perezas he visited the reopened site with Historic Heritage councillor Ana Pellicer,Public Works councillor Jose Ramon Gonzalez de Zarateand other members of the corporation.“This project has allowed us to know and recognise Benidorm’s origins and the moment when it was founded,” Perez said.It cost €1.2 million to carry out the Castillo excavations, of which €500,000 was covered by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).