Photo: Xavier Tugas. The Alcázar de Alcalá de Guadaira is perched on a hill on the banks of the river Guadaira, west of the town of Alcala de Guadaira .
History:
Excavations in the vast lands of Slack are bringing to light important sites for settlements that could belong to the Chalcolithic period.
With the advent first of the Greeks, who called Hienipo , and then the Romans, who called Ordo Hienípensis , you begin to have clear references on the settlement. But it definitely was in the Islamic period when Alcalá acquired a great development and great strategic importance. Arab culture was at that time well above the English in art, philosophy, science and especially in the way of life.
Muslim period are the two most important elements of Alcalá, as are the city walls and castle or fortress (built by the Almohad on another Arabic work above) key to the conquest of Seville, and flour mills located along the banks of the river, which provide the city and a thriving bakery industry, which now lives proud, peculiar physiognomy. The waters of this area were driven from Muslim times to Seville and its aqueduct was based on the source of Santa Lucia.
During the Castilian army's advance into Seville in the spring of 1247 and thoroughly looted after all Alcor was seen the formidable strength of Jabir, who was the name given. But before considering even as undertaking the siege, an embassy of the city is presented in real Castilian to deliver on a voluntary basis. But not to the Castilian monarch, but the emir of Granada, al-Ahmar, the first of the dynasty that ruled Nazari Granada until its occupation by the Catholic Monarchs. Al-Ahmar had paid tribute to lawsuit Fernando III and, in exchange for a substantial annual maravedíes balustrade of 150,000, became his vassal. In fact, accompanied with a retinue of 500 men to the king of Castile during the siege of Seville.
Arabs of Alcalá, unwilling to surrender the city without the enemy, gave the keys of it to the emir of Granada which, as a vassal of the Castilian, in the same act gave the plaza a Fernando III.
In the arms of Castile that provided on the corner of the patio door of the silos we see that the swamp is flanked by two keys that are now in the coat of arms, granted by Fernando III as a symbol of strength was the key to the Valle del Guadalquivir.
After the reconquest, Ferdinand III sent repairing its walls and moats.
In the fifteenth century as a result of the riots that took place during the reign of Henry IV between Guzman and Ponce de León , the Marquis of Cadiz seized the citadel and built a small fortress located on the west side of campus, which has a mud wall with embrasures of the cross and orb and defended by a moat and accessible by a drawbridge. Also, there are in that place the remains of two large cisterns at ground level, so their vaults form a roof to the height flanking the entrance to the converted in tower. Several adarve cut over to in case of an assault, to prevent attackers invade the rest of the fortress. Similarly, throughout the hotel had a rampart and two coracha coming down to the river to control it. Finally, add in the far west, where the small castle is located above, there was concealed in a false postern tower overlooking the fray. Together with one of the postern was another advantage coracha splitting of the wall.
Eventually became the Crown that the prison became real. In the sixteenth century their influence declined, and even the war of Independence, did not regain its military role.
Due to its proximity to Seville, this fortress became the main point of the zone defense.
The castle hosted famous personalities such as Catholic Monarchs and Charles V , and has been in prison for leading characters, as Don Diego Garcia de Padilla (Maestre de Calatrava), Don Juan Cardella (Archbishop of Braga and supporter of Trastámara Count) and Don Pedro Girón (Duke of Osuna).
Description:
Alcalá de Guadaira is one of the largest fortified complex in the province of Seville, comprising a series of buildings among which we must distinguish the fortress, an irregular floor around two patios, and wall the old town with its gates, towers, barbican and other defenses.
The castle is located on a small promontory which impedes access. Had a moat and drawbridge, and is flanked by eleven towers, nine and two polygonal irregular shape, forming two rooms or patios. The eleven towers surrounding the castle are interesting examples in which architectural and decorative details are of great value. Most of the towers are square shaped and very high including the keep, and a watchtower in the main part, which joined the rest of the enclosure through a pointed arch. In total it has 13 towers.
Materials:
The materials used in this fortress are two fundamentally Seville: stone and brick. Construction systems are also varied. Using the adobe brick and widely used system for Muslims and reinforced with blocks in visible areas of the building and the openings, doors or even the corners.
Condition:
was declared a National Monument in 1924, but this did not prevent many of the villagers use the materials for the construction of their homes, making defensive resent majestic building. Are currently undertaking the consolidation and restoration works of the towers and some walls.
Ownership and Use:
is currently municipal property and is not in use.
Protection:
Monument in 1924 was declared Historic-Artistic and in 1985 received the documentation of cultural interest. Under the protection of the general declaration of the Decree of April 22, 1949, and Law 16/1985 on English Historical Heritage. In 1993 the Andalusian gave special recognition to the castles of the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Source: CastillosNet .
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