A woman was left laughing at herself after visiting a Spanish castle for just €3 (£2.61) – only to discover the surprising reason behind the tourist attraction’s low entrance fee
Castillo de Colomares,Benalmádena(Image: Getty)
While some holidaymakers are content spending a week basking in the sunshine, others would rather immerse themselves in a destination’s history and culture. However, one woman found herself chuckling at her own expense after mistaking a well-known Spanish landmark for an “ancient castle” – only to find out it’s considerably more modern than it appears.
Content creator Alisatata, known as @iam_alisatata on social media, revealed how she paid just €3 (approximately £2.69) to visit Castillo de Colomares following her move to Spain. She was instantly struck by the elaborate design of the structure, located in the coastal town of Benalmádena – but her wonder soon turned to astonishment when she uncovered the reality behind it.
Despite its impressive, historic look, the building was in fact constructed between 1987 and 1994, meaning it’s nowhere near as ancient as she’d believed.
Posting the moment on TikTok, she said: “Admiring this ancient castle and wondering how the ticket was so cheap… then realising it was actually built in 1994.”
The striking structure isn’t a castle in the conventional sense, but rather a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his expeditions.
Covering roughly 1,500 square metres, it’s thought to be the world’s largest monument honouring the explorer – and it even houses what is claimed to be the smallest church on Earth.
Her video rapidly grabbed viewers’ attention, with many highlighting the mix-up.
One person said: “Most ancient castles have no decorations or details; they were built for defence in times of war, not to be beautiful.”
Another added: “That’s still pretty cool,” while a third wrote: “It’s not actually a medieval castle – it’s a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus.”
Despite the confusion, visitors reckon the attraction is still well worth checking out.
Reviewing Castillo de Colomares online, one person described it as an “absolutely beautiful monument” with “amazing carving work,” adding the views alone justify the modest entrance fee.
Another visitor said it provided a “lovely break from the beach,” noting that while the site is fairly compact, there’s loads to absorb as you wander around.
A third reviewer called it an “architectural curiosity” overlooking the Costa del Sol, praising its blend of styles – from Gothic to Mudejar – and its scenic location.
While it might not be the ancient fortress she originally envisaged, it appears the distinctive landmark still made a memorable impact.