Top 10 - Castles in Spain

     There are more than 2,500 documented castles in Spain! The number actually exceeds 10,000 if you include all the unofficial buildings and ruins that were once considered castles. Although some people refer to any palace as a castle, the official definition of a castle is a large, fortified building, typically from the medieval era. I have only visited a dozen Spanish castles, so this list is by no means comprehensive. It only includes those that I've visited personally. However, those that I've visited are definitely worth a look. With that disclaimer in mind, here is my Top 10:

10.  Fortaleza de Monterreal (Bayona) - Bayona is best known as the city where the Pinta landed upon its return from the Americas on March 1, 1493. It was from here that word of a "New World" spread across Europe. A full-scale replica of the Pinta sits in the harbor, which is guarded by the Fortaleza de Monterreal. The castle was built on the same site where Julius Caesar conquered Bayona in 60 BC. Construction of the modern castle was begun during the 11th century and wasn't completed until the 17th century. Because of its strategic location on the northwest coast of Spain, the site has been fortified for more than 2,000 years by many different groups (including Celtics, Visigoths and Romans) and has suffered many naval attacks over the centuries. Although there isn't much left in the interior of the fort, three kilometers of walls connect the three main towers, and are armed with many cannons. The Torre del Reloj houses the giant bell that was rung whenever ships were spotted approaching the shore.

Fortaleza de Monterreal

9. Castillo de la Mota (Medina del Campo, near Valladolid) - The Castillo de la Mota, located in Medina del Campo (56 km south of Valladolid), has the look of a classic castle. Built on an elevated hill (a mota), it dominates the small village that surrounds it. This setup is reminiscent of how much of Spain was during medieval times when the economy was based on the feudal system. The Lord of the Manor, el Don, would rent out his land to landless serfs who would pay the Lord with a substantial portion of the crops that they grew to support their family. If bandits attacked the village, the Lord would provide protection within the castle walls, and the villagers were expected to help defend the castle. The castle has a trapezoidal floor plan with four towers and a square courtyard in the middle. A dry moat surrounds the castle, which could only be accessed via a drawbridge when the moat was full. Unfortunately, we got there too late to go on the tour, so we only got to see a limited amount of the castle. We did get to enter the large chapel and walk around the impressive ramparts.

Castillo de la Mota

The castle chapel

8. Castillo de Consuegra - Consuegra is a town smack dab in the middle of La Mancha - Spain's interior plains where the adventures of Don Quijote took place. The castle occupies a spot on top of the hill that looks out over La Mancha, which today is covered in farmland. Along the ridge of the hill, visitors can explore one of the seven old fashioned windmills that were used to grind grain for generations. It now serves as a gift shop where you can purchase a ticket to explore its interior. The castle, which is over 800 years old, was built by the Order of San Juan de Jerusalen over the remains of Muslim castle that was conquered by Christian soldiers during the long religious war for control of the peninsula. The castle, which has gone through many reformations over the centuries, has been restored to appear as it did during its heyday in the 15th century. The many rooms include living quarters, a chapel, an armory, a narrow staircase leading down to the dungeon, and of course many ramparts along the exterior to defend the castle from attack.

Castillo de Consuegra

Consuegra Castle bed chamber

7. Alcazaba de Malaga - Malaga is a large city on the southern shores of Spain. The Alcazaba was constructed during the Islamic Era under the rule of the Al-Andalus. The current fortress was built in the 11th century along a ridge of a large hill that looks out over the city and the Mediterranean Sea. The ridge was previously occupied by the Phoenicians circa 600 BC. Excavations of the hill have also uncovered a Roman Era theater that was built into the western slope of the hill in the first century AD. The fortress comprises two walled enclosures (one within the other). The inner enclosure encompasses the hills summit and encloses the palaces within its gates. The whole structure can be accessed by climbing a series of stairs and ramps that climb the hill, passing through various gates with beautiful views of the city.

Alcazaba de Malaga

Roman Era theater

6. Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Córdoba) - Cordoba was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate in Spain during the Middle Ages. During that time, it was probably the most academically advanced city in Europe. "Alcazar" is the Romanized translation of the Arabic word for "The Palace." The Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos (Palace of the Christian Kings) is located near the banks of the Guadalquivir River near the famous Mosque-Cathedral - site of the principal Islamic mosque in Spain. When the Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus fell to the rival Abbasid Caliphate, the surviving monarch, Abd ar-Rahman I, fled to Cordoba. Soon after, he began construction of the Alcazar, which became the official residence of the Al-Andalus. The Christians conquered the city in 1236, and in 1328 King Alfonso XI began construction of the current palace on the site of the old fortress, incorporating many of its structures. The castle got its name from the Christian Monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, who used the fortress for one of the first permanent tribunals of the Spanish Inquisition. The magnificent palace is perhaps surpassed by the immaculate gardens that surround it. The complex was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

The Alcazar Gardens

5. Castillo de Coca (near Segovia) - Built for Don Alonso de Fonseca, the archbishop of Sevilla, during the 15th century, the Castillo de Coca (62 km NW of Segovia) is one of the best examples of Spanish Mudejar style - combining elements of Islamic styles with Flamboyant Gothic. The 15th century castle was attacked during the Revolt of the Comuneros in 1521. Over the years, the castle fell into disrepair until it was declared a national monument in 1926. However, full scale repairs to the castle weren't done until 1954-1958. Upon its completion, a Forestry School was opened within the castle. It was also partially opened to tourism, including: the Chapel, Armory and Central keep. One of the coolest things about Castillo de Coca is that you are able to explore the castle on your own - discovering all the nooks and crannies like kids do when exploring a vacated house. Even though it doesn't have some of the historical significance of many of the other castles on this list, it is a classic medieval castle, and looks really cool.

Castillo de Coca

Castle moat

Exploring the ramparts

4.  Castillo de Manzanares el Real (north of Madrid) - El Castillo de Manzanares is located at the foot of the Guadarrama Mountains along the Manzanares River (52 km. north of Madrid). This 15th century castle was the primary residence of the Mendoza family and is one of the best preserved castles from the era. The quadrangular castle was constructed completely of granite and has the look of a classical castle, with circular towers at each corner. In 1961, it was one of the castles used in filming the movie El Cid - the most famous warrior in Spanish history. The castle houses a museum on Castles of Spain, including a huge collection of tapestries.

Castillo de Manzanares el Real

Dining Hall

One of the amazing tapestries

3. Real Alcazar de Sevilla - The Royal Alcazar of Sevilla is a walled palace that was constructed on the site of the ancient Islamic-era citadel in the 10th century. It was expanded into a palace complex by the Abbadid Dynasty in the 11th century, followed by the Almohads in the 12th and 13th centuries. When the city was conquered by the Castilians in 1248, many of the palaces and gardens in the complex were rebuilt or replaced, retaining the Mudejar style, but adding sections with Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Alcazar was used as a set in the filming of the 1962 Hollywood blockbuster Lawrence of Arabia. The Alcazar is still a working palace, and the royal family occupies the upper stories whenever they are in town. The castle was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 and is administered by the Patrimonia Nacional.

Real Alcazar de Sevilla

One of the many ornately carved Palace entrances

2. Alcazar de Segovia -  The Alcazar of Segovia is the epitome of a medieval castle. Built on a stone peninsula overlooking the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, it was perhaps the most impregnable castle of its era. Secret passages below the castle lead down to the river below allowing access to fresh water as needed. The castle was built in the 12th century A.D. and was the home to 22 kings, but its most famous occupant was Isabel of Castile - the queen who with her husband Fernando would unite the peninsula (except Portugal) into one of the first countries of modern Europe. After the castle was gutted by fire in 1862, it was restored to its 15th century glory and converted into a museum and National Archive. The Homage Tower once housed the famous treasure of the Crown of Castile, which was used to fund the voyages of Christopher Columbus. In modern times, the castle served as one of the models for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle at Disneyland. UNESCO declared the castle a World Heritage Site in 1985.

Alcazar de Segovia (2008 study abroad group)

Main Tower of Segovia's Alcazar

Throne Room

1. The Alhambra (Granada) - If there were a 7 Wonders of Spain list, the Alhambra would most likely take the first spot. In 1238, with the "Reconquest" of Spain by the Christians in full bloom, Abdallah Ibn al-Ahmar decided to strengthen the defenses of Granada by building a fortified palace on Sabika Hill. During the reign of the Nasrid Dynasty, the Alhambra was transformed into a palatine city, complete with aqueducts that supplied the mountain top with an adequate supply of fresh water. Over the course of the next 250 years, the caliphs continually added to the complex, building new palaces and converting the older ones into ornate governmental buildings or housing for other important individuals. As the other Islamic strongholds of Andalucía fell to the Christian monarchs, Granada became the last stronghold of the Islamic forces in Europe. In December of 1491, the aptly named Catholic monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, marched into Granada accompanied by an army of overwhelming numbers. Rather than fight a bloody war, Muhammad XII of Granada capitulated in January of 1492, allowing the Alhambra to be spared a brutal attack. Upon the exodus of the Islamic forces, Fernando and Isabel took possession of the citadel. Their grandson, Carlos V, built his own palace on the summit - a cubed building with a circular courtyard which stands out due to its incongruity with the Moorish architecture which dominates the remainder of the hill. The Alhambra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Although some of the ancient structures have long since been replaced, the complex currently contains: the Alcazaba (fortress), a fortified wall with 13 defensive towers, the Palace of Charles V, Comares Palace, the Palace of the Lions, Partal Palace, the Palace of Abencerrajes, the Palace of the Convent of San Francisco, Generalife Palace, and numerous plazas, gates, towers and gardens. The geometrically themed artwork on the walls, which was carved or painted by hand, is absolutely exquisite.

Wide view of the Alhambra complex

The Generalife Palace fountain

Inner view of a palatial dome