On the northeast slope we see the Gelada mountain range, the Puig Campana, the Aitana mountain range or the Cabezó d’Or. If we turn our gaze towards the southern slope we will see the Serra Grossa or Mount Benacantil. The Santa Bárbara castle, the Santa Faz monastery or the El del Conde or La Paz estate are also visible from this place.

The park is conditioned as a recreational area. It has picnic areas to have a picnic and enjoy the views. Given its orography, much of it is not accessible to people with reduced mobility. The vegetation of the area is shrubby and has a pine forest at its southern end.

The hill is crowned by the Calvari hermitage, an 18th century construction with a Greek cross plan covered by a small dome. The complex was the end of a Via Crucis that was built here, with several coffers with ceramic panels that recalled the scenes of the Calvary. The place has always been a place of visit for the town’s inhabitants who came to spend their day of rest, especially during Easter. It was also the scene of children’s competitions, where children played throwing stones against the children of Mutxamel.

In addition, the place has two old cisterns, one half-buried on the slope of the mountain made of stone with a semicircular vault, and another located inside the municipal cemetery also made of stone but plastered. The cemetery is also a place of interest, it was inaugurated in 1883 and its interior houses valuable pantheons from the 19th century belonging to the upper classes of Sant Joan and its Huerta. Visiting the necropolis is permitted but visitors are expected to respect the memory of the deceased, and taking photographs is expressly prohibited.

This scenario was the protagonist of a historical event when on April 25, 1812, Spanish and French troops fought for four hours. The conflict ended up being resolved with the withdrawal of Spanish troops to Alicante.

A few meters from the access to the mountain is the hermitage of Santa Ana, which dates back to the 16th century, a unique construction with an ashlar façade, located next to an irrigation pond. The hermitage is very close to the Salafranca house and tower, also from the 16th century. This tower is declared an Asset of Cultural Interest since it belongs to the Torres de la Huerta complex, which constituted the defensive system in late medieval and modern times, protecting Camp d’Alacant from Berber raids.

Mount Calvari is a fascinating place where you can enjoy calm and tranquility while allowing you to learn about an important part of our history, since the most characteristic elements of our landscape appear there, the Orchard and its irrigation infrastructure, the defense towers and ancestral houses along with religious buildings, all in a forest environment that offers exceptional views of the province of Alicante.

To learn more about this landscape and the town of Sant Joan d’Alacant you can continue along the Camí del Serení – corresponding to Pintor Sorolla street – and which links with the old Lloixa road.