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Welcome to the Conjunto Monumental de la Alcazaba
Recommended Itineraries
The Alcazaba is located on a solitary hill overlooking the town and bay of Almería. Together with the walls of the river basin and the Cerro de San Cristóbal , the fortress is one of the most impressive mediaeval defensive complexes in Al-Andalus. Its present-day structure is the result of its historical evolution and the many alterations made to it over the centuries. The sheer slopes of the hill and the dominating views of the surrounding area were determining factors in the choice of this site for a fortress, as well as in its continued military use right up until the twentieth century. It was declared a Historical-Artistic Monument and National Artistic Treasure in 1933 and work on restoring and adapting it for visitors began in 1940. In 1989, the Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía, which has owned and managed the monument since the auntonomous regional government was set up, created the institution known as the Conjunto Monumental de la Alcazaba, with the aim of ensuring its preservation and encouraging the study and dissemination of its important historical legacy.
Today, the Conjunto Monumental de la Alcazaba consists of two Islamic enclosures and a Christian castle. You enter the fortress through an Albarran tower and from there walk up a zigzagging ramp guarded by the Torre de los Espejos to the Torre de la Justicia, which has a strategically placed bend before you reach the entrance. The first enclosure, like the second, is of Islamic origin. Today it is landscaped thanks to the work carried out to prepare it for visitors and for the performances held there at the start of the 20th century, under the direction of Prieto Moreno. However, in Islamic times there was a whole structure of streets and houses, the remains of which were discovered in the archaeological excavations carried out during the 1980s and 90s. There was also a complex water supply network of wells with waterwheels, cisterns and channels, the remains of which are still preserved. You can take one of three different itineraries once you have entered through the so-called Torre de la Justicia: If you follow the first option, the first important archaeological element you encounter is a hydraulic complex consisting of a cistern, a fountain and a well. The second choice of route takes you through small terraces and fruit trees, with the above mentioned complex to the left. The third itinerary ascends parallel to the northern stretch of the wall, the only complete section of the original wall preserved today.
The so-called Puerta de la Justicia (Justice Gate) opens in a tower dated to the Nasrid period, although it was remodelled at the beginning of the 20th century. Through it, we go around a bend to enter the first of the Islamic enclosures.
The Torre del Homenaje (keep) was built as a residence for the governor of the fortress. It consists of a dungeon, two superimposed rooms, which are reached by stairs, and terrace with a parapet and battlements.
This Chinese porcelain ataifor decorated with gold epigraphy dates from the 10th century and is evidence of the presence of such important pieces in Almería from an early time.
All three itineraries come out in front of the Muro de la Campana de la Vela, a section of wall that separates the first and second enclosures. You enter the second enclosure from one of the two towers on either side of the Vela Wall. If you go through the North Tower you will pass by the shop. The upper rooms of the two towers house, interpretation areas where you can learn more about the Alcazaba and the town of Almería in Islamic times.
The so-called Torre de la Odalisca (Odalisca Tower) is part of the extension of the palace area carried out during the Nasrid period.
There are fabulous panoramic views from the tower roofs and informative plaques indicate some of the most important points of interest. The so-called Aljibe Califal (cistern) is a partially buried hydraulic construction with five sections in which the working of the channels and the water collection system is explained.
The area where the reservoir and the Casa del Alcaide (governor's house) are located, was built at the beginning of the 20th century by Prieto Moreno, in the style of a romantic image of the Alhambra.
First Enclosure
Two houses were built on the Islamic remains in the 1970s. Today they have been adapted to explain, through the remains that are still visible, aspects of a mediaeval Islamic dwelling and of life in the Alcazaba.
Puerta de la Justicia (Justice Gate)
After the Islamic houses, the itinerary continues through the archaeological remains that are still being studied.
North Wall
Once you have passed through the palace area, you come to the Christian castle built by the Catholic Monarchs in the 16th century, following the taking of the city.
Muro de la Campana de la Vela (wall)
Torre de los Espejos (Mirrors Tower-library) Baluarte del Saliente (Projecting Bulwark) (administration) Hydraulic Complex South Tower. Interpretation Area North Tower. Interpretation Area
Christian Castle
Second Enclosure Aljibe Califal (cistern)
Second Enclosure
San Juan Church Casa del Alcaide (governor's house) Inside one of the reconstructed Islamic houses, we can see aspects of domestic life during the Islamic period.
Public toilets and refreshments Baths Baths House. Permanent Exhibition Palace Complex. Archaeological remains
Christian Castle Parade Ground Torre del Homenaje – Keep (temporary exhibitions) Jairán Wall
First Enclosure The Aljibe (cistern) in the first Islamic enclosure. Aljibes stored the water that guaranteed a supply the occupants of the fortress.
This area, now occupied by gardens, had houses and streets in Islamic times.
Marble basin inscribed with an anonymous poem about water and its mysteries.
Sundial discovered during the excavation of the Second Enclusure of the Alcazaba. Now Museum of Almería.
Singularities of the complex
Northern part of the Palace Complex
The Catholic Monarchs built their castle in the western part of the Alcazaba, over part of the Islamic Palace.
Address, opening hours and visits:
Español
Historical Monument of
Français Deutsch
La Alcazaba
C/ Almanzor, s/n 04002 Almería Telf.: +34 950 80 10 08 Fax: +34 950 88 20 01 www.museosdeandalucia.es/culturaydeporte/museos/CMAAL
[email protected]
Flask. The archaeological excavations have provided us with a large number of finds through which we can reconstruct various aspects of life in the Alcazaba. Glaxed flask in honey and manganese (11th century).
A Grand Fortress
The Palace Complex
The Christian Castle
The Alcazaba of Almería is above all an archaeological site. By studying the preserved structures and excavated materials we can reconstruct various aspects of life in the fortress and the town of Almería.
The Alcazaba has always been a seat of power. The successive authorities (governors and monarchs) that have occupied it have built various palaces over the centuries. This successive reoccupation meant that earlier structures were often reused when constructing new buildings. The palace complex we know the most about is that of the Taifa ruler al-Mutasim, as it was described at great length by the writers of the period.
After 1489, when Almería fell into Christian hands, the Alcazaba took on a mainly military role. We have to bear in mind that the town had become the maritime frontier with North Africa. At this time, the fortress was in very poor condition due to the damage caused by the earthquake of 1487.
The monumental Complex has been of interest to scholars and scientists for a long time and has been the subject of many archaeological studies, the concept and methodology of which have varied over the years. These interventions have constantly added to our knowledge of the monument from a wide variety of perspectives. In the second half of the 20th century, local scholars undertook archaeological excavations for the sole purpose of obtaining exhibits for the museum, although the results of these studies were never published. The first systematic recording of the structures came with the plans of the palace area drawn up by Fernando Ochotorena in 1953.
Four-handled jug decorated with the sgraffito technique on manganese. 13th century (Alcazaba de Almería).
Subsequently some of the archaeological structures were buried. Gardens were planted over them and pathways, which in many cases broke up the preserved remains, were laid out. Today the work continues using modern archaeological methods in a team endeavour undertaken by groups from different disciplines whose objectives are the interpretation, preservation, and diffusion of this important and unique heritage. Private baths in the Palace Complex. We can still see the lower part (the hipocaustum), which was below floor level, and the service area (furnace, boiler and wood storage).
Ceramic bowl from Manises (15th century). Pieces like this show us how Valencian merchants established themselves in the own in the 15th century.
“Among these is the grand palace that has views on its northern side towards Mount Layham and on its southern side a magnificent garden in which there are fruit trees of all types (…). The floors and skirting of the hall are covered in white marble. (…) a grand room perfectly made with all kinds of extraordinary gilts that leave all who see it quite perplexed.” Today, this palace area is one of those being excavated. Large landscaped areas have been uncovered with pools and lateral walkways running through the gardens, as well as pavilions and palace rooms from the Caliphate, Taifa and Nasrid periods.
The skirting of Islamic houses was decorated with stucco painted with red ochre. This piece was recently found in the Alcazaba Palace Complex.
English
At the western end of the Alcazaba, on structures of the old islamic palace, the Catholic Monarchs built a new triangular-plan castle that conformed to the relief of the land. The purpose of this new castle was mainly to improve the area's defences, as the old fortress was in very poor condition and also the development of artillery meant that defensive needs had changed. The new building was designed to present an emblematic image representative of the newly established power. It made use of a series of constructional elements such as well cut ashlars, semicircular towers and ball and cross embrasures. It is interesting to see the quarrymen's marks on the ashlars; there are more than twenty-five of them and it was the way they made sure they were paid for the stone they provided.
The aim of the castle was to create an emblematic image of the newlyestablished power.
A maximum of 30 people per group. School groups can call 950 17 55 00 to book guided tours. Learning material is available from the Fine Arts Educational Office at the Provincial Office of Culture (telephone: 950 01 17 01).
Historical Monument of
History
Archaeological and Monumental Ensembles of Andalusia
Almería
