| Alcazaba of Almería | |
|---|---|
Alcazaba de Almeria | |
| Almería,Andalucía,Spain | |
 The Alcazaba taken from the east overlooking the first enclosure | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fortress |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Location | |
  | |
| Coordinates | 36°50′28″N02°28′19″W / 36.84111°N 2.47194°W /36.84111; -2.47194 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 10th century |
| Built by | Abd ar-Rahman III |
TheAlcazaba of Almería is a fortified complex inAlmería, southernSpain. The wordalcazaba, from the Arabic word (القَصَبَة;al-qaṣabah), signifies a walled fortification in a city.
In 955, Almería was given the title ofmedina ("city") by theCaliph of CordobaAbd ar-Rahman III, when the construction of the defensive citadel located in the upper sector of the city began.[1] Provided not only with walls and towers but also with squares, houses, and a mosque, it was to be the seat of the local government, commanding the city and the nearby sea.
The complex was enlarged under caliphAl-Mansur and again underKhayran as-Saqlabi [ar], the first king of the independenttaifa of Almería.
Its purpose was to protect the area's largest city at the time,Pechina.[1]
Most of the objects from thearchaeological site at the Alcazaba are kept in theMuseo de Almería, but some are in the Museo de la Alhambra.[2]
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 largecisterns.
The first enclosure is separated by the second one by the so-calledMuro 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 KingCharles 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 reconquest of Almería, theCatholic monarchsIsabella I of Castile andFerdinand II of Aragon had a castle built in the most elevated sector of the town, more apt to resist the new gunpowderartillery.
The Alcazaba has been used to filmConan the Barbarian,[3]Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,[4][5]Never Say Never Again,[6] and most recentlyWonder Woman 1984,[7][8][9] as well as the syndicated TV seriesQueen of Swords used the inner courtyard and gardens.[10] Wonder Woman 1984 production company will donate 18.000 € to preserve and investigate the Alcazaba.[11]
Thesixth season of the TV seriesGame of Thrones was shot in locations from Andalusia to Catalonia, including the Muralla de Jayrán,[12] and the Alcazaba fortress, which is the capital ofDorne, the kingdom of theHouse Martell.[13]
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Media related toAlcazaba y Murallas del Cerro de San Cristóbal at Wikimedia Commons
