Get to know Alcalá
Alcalá la Real, borderland
Alcalá la Real, located in the Sierra Sur de Jaén, is a unique place to discover the history of Andalusia. It represents a position of great strategic importance in the south of the Iberian Peninsula due to its role as a border city. This position has given rise to a continuous flow of cultures, people and exchange.
Today, the city stands at the foot of the Mota Fortress, a monument of Arab origin that with its steep streets, stately homes, churches and architectural details, shows the splendor of its rich historical heritage to the visitor.
Alcalá la Real has numerous archaeological sites distributed throughout the municipal Middle Term, the Copper Age, Argaric Bronze and Late Bronze Age, Iberian culture, Roman and late Roman times.
Then the first Islamic settlers arrived in Alcalá la Real in 713 AD During the reign of Al-Hakem II (822-852 AD) when the network was built of watchtowers to protect the territory from the invasions of the peoples of northern Europe. The 12th century was the most brilliant in the Islamic history of Alcalá la Real, as its population became independent from African power, being the governor of the Mota Fortress Abd al-Malik.
During the 13th and 14th centuries it was successively conquered by Muslims and Christians, the latter settling definitively in 1340, under the reign of Alfonso XI. In 1341 this king founded an abbey under royal patronage with its own independent jurisdiction; and it is from this period of splendor that the Iglesia Mayor Abacial and the Palacio Abacial remain as examples of construction.
Mota Fortress
The monumental complex of La Mota Fortress is strategically located on the top of a hill 1.03 m. above sea level. These characteristics, shape and situation, give it a predominant vision, as a perfect natural watchtower.
The old walled city or fortress had religious, administrative and government buildings, as well as commercial centers they resided from the civil and ecclesiastical authorities to the common people.
watchtower network
En las cercanías a Alcalá la Real se configuró un amplio dispositivo de atalayas cristianas y Muslims, as a key to the border system in the Late Middle Ages, connecting castles and cities such as Alcaudete, Moclín and the Alhambra itself.
The watchtowers in the area differ in terms of size, height and construction. Traditionally, Christian and Muslim watchtowers have been differentiated, but originally, they were all built at the height of the Islamic presence, being used as elements of communication between the squares and castles that dotted the territory._cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
Do you want to make a route to the watchtowers of Alcalá la Real? Click here to go to Fuente Álamo or to Dehesilla and Moraleja .
Historic helmet
Desde el descenso de la población From the interior of the fortress to its current location, many buildings have been built, embellishing the historic center of the city at every step.
Pilares del siglo XVI, iglesias , modernist buildings, squares with distinguished characters as eternal observers or parks that have witnessed life for generations. A walk through the historic center of Alcalá la Real and its archaeological museum will help us understand the passage of time and the evolution of a town accustomed to living within its walls.