Dénia Castle

Moorish castle above the old town, with a museum and panoramic views over the coast

Dénia Castle sits on a rocky promontory above the old town and can be seen from almost everywhere in the surrounding area. The castle has been continuously occupied since Iberian times, through Roman, Moorish, and Christian periods, and the layers of history are visible in the fabric of the building — Moorish arches embedded in later Christian walls, Renaissance palace rooms, and medieval towers.

The Palau del Governador (Governor's Palace) inside the castle houses the town's archaeological museum, with a good collection of Islamic glazed pottery, Roman finds, and objects recovered from the castle's long history of use. The views from the battlements over the town, the harbour, and the Montgó massif make the entrance fee worthwhile even if you spend only an hour inside. The castle is open daily; there is a direct path up from the old town.

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A story
In the 11th century, Dénia was the capital of an independent taifa (Moorish kingdom) that was powerful enough to control the Balearic Islands and parts of Sardinia. The taifa of Dénia was one of the wealthiest in the Iberian Peninsula, ruled by Mujahid al-Amiri, who used the city as a base for raids across the western Mediterranean. The castle that stands today incorporates structures from this period, though what you see is largely a 16th-century Christian reconstruction on Moorish foundations.

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