At this location, known as Canfali, the construction of the castle and its walls began. Nothing remains of it except for fragments of the western section of the wall, which can be seen from the port area. Following an archaeological campaign in the 1990s, the wall was dated to the 15th century. Although the perimeter it occupied is unknown, it is clear that it was a modest construction.
The strategic intention of locating the town in this location is evident. High up, difficult to access, and with complete control over the bay, located between the two beaches. They encountered only one problem they couldn't solve: water scarcity.
Benidorm's origins date back to the Middle Ages, when, for clearly strategic reasons, it was decided to establish a stable Christian population in the area to counter one of the dangers of that time: the Muslims.
With this objective in mind, the medieval lord of this region, Admiral Bernat de Sarrià, granted the first Charter of Town to Benidorm in 1325.
Construction of the castle and a walled perimeter began here to protect the residents who settled here. It probably had two walls: one that defended the military quarters and the other that protected the civilian population. Both walls disappeared over time, and we know of their existence from preserved historical documentation.
The fortress that served as a defense against incursions by Algerian and Berber pirates in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries stood on the large rock separating the two beaches. The castle was later abandoned, and today only a few remains of the walls remain, resting on the rocks of the viewing point, also known as the "Balcony of the Mediterranean."
To visit this area, we can follow the balustrade that surrounds it, taking into account some stairs going up and others going down.
We will then continue the route down Condestable Zaragoza Street, keeping in mind that we may encounter some vehicles heading our way here, until we reach point 15, Elche Park.