Alcazaba of Almería

Alcazaba of Almería
Alcazaba de Almeria
Almería Andalucía, Spain
The Alcazaba taken from the east overlooking the first enclosure
Alcazaba of Almería
Coordinates	36°50′27″N 2°28′15″W / 36.84083°N 2.47083°W / 36.84083; -2.47083
Type	Fortress
Site information
Open to the public	yes
Site history
Built	10th century
Built by	Abd ar-Rahman III

The Alcazaba of Almería is a fortified complex in Almería, southern Spain. The word alcazaba, from the Arabic word al-qasbah, signifies a walled-fortification in a city.

History

In 995 Almería gained the title of medina ("city") by the Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman III: construction of the defensive citadel, located in the upper sector of the city, began in this period. The alcazaba, provided not only with walls and towers but also with squares, houses and a mosque, was to be also the seat of the local government, commanding the city and the sea nearby.

The complex was enlarged under caliph Al-Mansur and, later, under Al-Jairan, first king of the independent taifa of Almería (1012–1028).

Description

The first line of walls is a wide enclosure corresponding to the first Muslim military camp, used as shelter for the population in case of siege. For this task it was provided with large cisterns.

The first enclosure is separated by the second one by the so-called Muro de la Vela ("Wall of the Sail"), taking its name from a bell that warned the population in case of events such as the arrival of a ship in the port, danger, fires etc. This wall was built by King Charles III of Spain.

In the second enclosure was the residence for the governors, their soldiers and their servants. It included also the mosque, baths, tanks, tents etc.

The third enclosure, the most external, is also the most modern in the complex. After the Christian conquest of Almería, the Catholic monarchs Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand I of Aragon had a castle built in the most elevated sector of the town, more apt to resist the new gunpowder artillery.