Since the Muslim period, the defence of Al-Andalus became a primary objective and that is the reason why castles were built in fortifications located in strategic places. Most of them are over six centuries old, witnesses of the Middle Ages, built by the Arab population to defend themselves from the Christians fighting for the Reconquest. These fortresses or castles have survived to the present day as living witnesses of that exciting period.
The different recommended routes through the castles of the province of Seville promote the valuable architectural and historical legacy of these jewels located in numerous towns of the province and that centuries ago were meeting places for cultures, centres of trade and transmission of knowledge, as well as defensive enclaves, inherited from the recent Muslim past, reformed or rebuilt in some cases after the Christian reconquest.
In this way, the route will take us to know the defensive fronts known as the “Galician band”, which runs through the north of the province in order to control any incursion into it from the kingdom of Portugal, as well as the “Moorish band”, located on the south of the territory and which defended the border with the Nasrid kingdom.
To discover everything that the province of Seville has to offer in relation to this theme, four different routes are proposed. These are geographically close and related to the two defensive fronts mentioned above: the Galician band and the Moorish band.
Enjoy this proposal that combines the discovery of this interesting architectural and historical legacy with the tradition, idiosyncrasy and unique characteristics of our towns.
ROUTE: Third route belonging to the Moorish band
Castle of Utrera
The castle of Utrera is located on a hill to the north-west of the town, next to the parish church of Santiago el Mayor. It was built by the Council of Seville over the remains of an old Arab tower. By the end of the 15th century, it lost its defensive character and was abandoned. It has been partially restored and recovered for public enjoyment and houses a summer auditorium where several cultural activities are held.
Castle of Los Molares
The castle of Los Molares is on Duque de Alcalá street in the town of Los Molares, located in the south-east area of the province of Seville. It was built during the first half of the 14th century to defend and repopulate the Moorish band. Sevillian poet Baltasar de Alcázar lived in it in the 16th century, the period of greatest splendour for the town, with its famous Silk Fair. At the end of the 19th century, it was restored by Enrique de la Cuadra, born in Utrera.
Castle of Las Aguzaderas
The castle of Las Aguzaderas is a fortress located in the town of El Coronil, some 3 km away from the town centre, built, according to some sources, by the Arabs. Its definitive foundation dates back to the 14th century and was modified in the 15th and 16th centuries.
It is a typical fortress of the surrounding area and period, but instead of being located on an elevation, it is in a watercourse, as its mission was to defend the water spring of the Aguzaderas fountain and not to control the territory. It was declared a National Monument.
Castle of La Villa
Supposedly built by the inhabitants of the unlocated Callense Republic, it is the first building erected in the town centre of El Coronil. Most of its battlements and towers disappeared due to the numerous uses it was put to, although some fragments of polychrome from the 16th century have been preserved in the keep, when the building was used as a temporary residence for the noble Ribera family, lords of the village. It was the seat of its City Council, its market square and even the barracks of the Civil Guard and a wheat mill.
Castle of Cote
The castle of Cote stands 526 metres above sea level in the south-east end of the Montellano mountain range, in the town of Montellano. The dominant position it occupies stands out: from its top you can see Morón de la Frontera, Arahal, Paradas and Carmona, among other towns. This Gothic castle was built at the end of the 13th century by order of Alfonso X. The castle of Cote formed a line of fortifications of the so-called Moorish Band with the towers of Lopera and El Bollo and with the castles of Morón, Aguzaderas and El Coronil.
Tower of Lopera
The tower of Lopera, located on the road to Montellano, is in the farmhouse of the same name, which can be accessed from the local road that connects Montellano with Palmar de Troya. This tower-castle is a small fortified enclosure that used to defend the border between the kingdoms of Seville and Granada. This tower is famous for the important victory obtained by the Christians over the Arab kingdom of Granada in its surroundings in 1484.
Castle of Pruna
The castle of Pruna or castle of Hierro stands on a rocky hill next to the town of Pruna. It is a frontier castle of Arab origin, located in the middle of the Moorish band. Its construction dates from the mid-15th century. It is a wonderful example of a rocky frontier castle which was an effective observatory from which the enemy was sighted and other fortresses, such as the castle of Olvera, the castle of Zahara de la Sierra and the Torreón de Vallehermoso, were informed of the danger.
0 comments
New comment
The comments are moderated, so it takes a while to appear. If they contain offensive language they will not be published.