San Fernando Fort

San Fernando Fort, locally known as Castillo de San Fernando or Castell de Sant Ferran, lies on a hill in the center of the city of Alicante, in the province of Alicante in Spain.

San Fernando Fort was built between 1808 and 1812 in neoclassical style, during the Peninsular War, by the military engineer Pablo Ordovas on the Tossal Hill. It was named San Fernando in honor of Ferdinand VII of Spain. It had to protect the city of Alicante from any attack coming from the north, over land. Apparently it was also meant to serve as a prison. It never saw service. Having been built quickly and of poor quality, the main bulwark began cracking within several years, making the fort obsolete.

Santa Bárbara Castle is close by.

At present San Fernando Fort can freely be visited, although besides it outer walls there is not a lot to be seen. It is used as a city park. It is suffering a lot from graffiti as you can see and feels like a run-down area. Sad.

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