CHRONOLOGY: 18th century; XIX century
It dates from the last third of the 18th century
And it was built on the tower of the Ampolla, one of the few remains of the old medieval walls. It is a cozy space of reduced dimensions, covered with a carpanel generatrix vault. The exterior decoration of it denotes its marked popular character, visible in the balustrade that finishes off the façade, the belfry, the wafers that form a small gallery or the lamisca whitewashed finish.
The current building, which surely sits on an old mosque (1258-1271?) Dates from the 18th century and was rebuilt in 1830. (Catalog of the Special Plan for the Protection of the Surroundings of the Castle of Santa Bárbara in Alicante).
In 1271 the hermitage was opened to worship with the presence of Don Alfonso and Dona Violante, and the father of this Don Jaime I of Aragón, the act served as a pretext to attract his father-in-law to an interview.
For a time, from the 17th century to the middle of the first half of the 19th century, the Carmelite friars had a school of first letters installed, in this place where they built the current sanctuary.
From this enclave, the Procession of Santa Cruz that is celebrated on Holy Wednesday starts. Costaleros and costaleras carry four religious steps down the steep and narrow streets from the hermitage. After the procession it is time to climb the steps again and in some sections it is done on the run.
Another of the charms of the visit is in the viewpoint, which offers us spectacular views of the city.
