discover the watchtowers
If you are living in a city in the border of two realms, feeling the pressure of a possible attack from both sides of the place, you will find very useful a defensive system that help you controlling the surroundings. This is why between Granada and Cordoba there is a city, Alcalá la Real. There you will have the opportunity to discover the watchtowers.
If you have read about our history, you will know it was forged between battles. There was a time, during several “taifas” realms, when these battles were Andalusies families (natives from Al Andalus) versus other Andalusies families. Some time later, these battles were Castilians versus Andalusies. And yes, there were battles, and it was important to have information in advance. That’s why the watchtowers were crucial.
the importance of the towers
Nowadays we connect our computer, search an url and we see instantly what is is happening in the other side of the world.
Centuries ago, during medieval time, there was no possibility like this. You needed to control your own city, but also what was happening some kilometers further. For this reason, there were built some towers at high points. Inside them, there was only a room at the top, where soldiers could sleep and have some rest, and the terrace, from where they were looking far away.
When they saw something strange, or they were pretty sure that there was a group attacking them, they could light a fire. Normally, you could light a dry fire, so you could see very well the flames. If the weather asked for something different, you could light a wet fire, so instead of flames, you would see the smoke.
Therefore, you could send to messages to places that were far away, and advise them if something was happening.
and what happens now
Now, you have the chance to visit these watchtowers. If you come to Alcalá la Real, there are several of them. Originally, there were 15 watchtowers that were surrounding the bigger one, the fortress of la Mota. Today, you can visit nine of them, but it is quite a number if you think they were built centuries ago.
Generally the watchtowers are 15 to 16 meters high, and there are two kinds of them, the Castilian (Christian) one, and the Andalusi (Moors) one. You can tell the difference by the top of it.
If the tower ends in a parapet, this is a Castilian tower. It is like a crown shaped tower. In the case the tower is completely straight, this is because it is about an Andalusi one. So for far away you can see the differece.
You can visit all of these three towers in a 12 kilometers hike, 3 hours, going from one to the other, and comparing the views from each one. Or you can visit just one of them. But if you are interested in visiting and learning about the Conquest, and the fortress, I truly recommend you at least one of them.
In Maicamero we offer you the possibility to hike to these towers in a guided tour that will talk about history, flora and landscape. All you need to experience our inner Andalucia.