Castle of Xàtiva
Castle of Xàtiva (Valencian: Castell de Xàtiva) is a castle located in the city of Xàtiva near Valencia, Spain. It is strategically located on the ancient roadway Via Augusta leading from Rome across the Pyrenees and down the Mediterranean coast to Cartagena and Cádiz.
In 1092, the castle fell into the occupation of the Almoravid dynasty who were expelled in an uprising that took place in 1145. During this uprising, the castle was besieged by the Governor of Valencia, Marwan Abd-al-Aziz. In 1171, the Castle finally fell, along with the rest of the Levante coast, into the hands of the Almohads.
King James I of Aragon began his crusade there in the summer of 1239, finally capturing Xátiva on 22 May 1244, following a five-month siege. After submitting to the Christian monarch and signing the Treaty of Játiva the Moors handed over the smaller nearby Castle to James I, while they were allowed to continue occupying the larger castle for another two years based on the terms of the treaty.
After the two years had elapsed King James I of Aragon repopulated a large part of the town with Catalan and Aragonese settlers.
The walk up to the castle is a long one, but the views are sensational. On the way up, on your left is the 18th-century Ermita de San José and, to the right, the lovely Romanesque Iglesia de Sant Feliu (1269), Xàtiva’s oldest church. You’ll also pass by the very battered remains of part of the old Muslim town.
External links
There is plenty of information available about Xativa and the surrounding area on the English language website; www.xativatourismguide.com
Coordinates: 38°58′58.57″N 0°31′7.34″W / 38.9829361°N 0.5187056°W