| Benacantil | |
|---|---|
 Mount Benacantil with theCastle of Santa Bárbara. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 169 m (554 ft) |
| Coordinates | 38°21′00″N00°28′41″W / 38.35000°N 0.47806°W /38.35000; -0.47806 |
| Geography | |
  Benacantil Spain | |
| Location | Alicante,Spain |
| Parent range | Sistemas Prebéticos |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Bronze Age |
Mount Benacantil (Valencian pronunciation:[benakanˈtil]) is amount (or rather a largehill) that dominates the urban part ofAlicante, and is the characteristic image of the city. The mount name appears as Banu-l-Qatil in the work of MuslimgeographerAl-Idrisi in the 12th century, but it is possible that this is an error of transcription (Arab names like "beni" are abundant on thepeninsula; the name means "family tree") because it does not make sense in Arabic (it would be "the family of the murderer"). Compared with other names in theValencian Community, the mount name is more likely to be derived from the word "benna", an Arabic transcription of "pinna", which is "rock" in Latin; combined with the adjective "laqanti", which comes from "Laqant," the Arabic name of the city. Therefore, a half Roman, half Arabictoponym, "Benna Laqanti".[1]
The rock mount is covered bypine trees and bushes on the north side, while on the south side, which overlooks theMediterranean Sea, there are only rocks. In the intermediate areas there are bushes and grasses that are quite characteristic for the dryMediterranean climate.
The mount is famous for the rock formation on its south-western slope, known asla cara del moro ("the moor's face").(view image)[2]
The medieval fortress of Alicante, theCastle of Santa Bárbara stands on the top of the mount. On its slopes there are Ereta Park, the neighborhoods of Santa Cruz, San Roque, San Anton and Raval Roig, and antique apartments. In recent years it has become abotellón, or place where young people congregate to socialize while drinking alcohol.
Avenida Jaime II, which is a continuation of Avenida de Alfonso el Sabio, crosses the northern foot of the mount, and so does a tunnel ofAlicante Tram.
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