Setefilla Castle

Lora del Río, Spain

The Setefilla Castle is located on the outskirts of the town of Lora del Río. The name has its origin in a medieval place name that should refer to the Muslim fortress located on the table of the same name.

In the Middle Ages, Setefilla was an important enclave related tot eh Muslim conquest, the reconquest and the subsequent repopulation of the area and appears several times cited in the texts of historians of the time.

Of Arab origin, the Setefilla Castle seems to be based on an ancient Roman fort that in turn took advantage of a previous Iberian enclosure. It was built over the years 888-912 by the Banu Layt, the Berber tribe that controlled the region. They fortified the castro with the name of “Chadfilah” or “Chant Fila”.

The construction is polygonal and adapts to the surface of the hill where it sits. It has an area of approximately 4000 m2.

References:

Comments

Your name

Website (optional)


Address

Carretera Lora del Río, Lora del Río, Spain
See all sites in Lora del Río

Details

Founded: 888-921 AD
Category: Castles and fortifications in Spain

More Information

andaluciarustica.com

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Almodóvar del Río Castle (41 km)
Carmona Castle (32,7 km)
Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro (32,2 km)
Collegiate Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption (64,8 km)
University of Osuna (64,9 km)
Alcalá de Guadaíra Castle (55,5 km)
Santa Inés del Valle Monastery (41 km)
Marchenilla Castle (54,6 km)
Luna Castle (46,7 km)

User Reviews

JOSE ANTONIO (18 months ago)
Lugar histórico interesante pero no visitable por peligro de derrumbe, necesita restauración
Manuel Belloso Reyes (19 months ago)
Vistas maravillosas
Francisco Antonio Martin (22 months ago)
Tranquilo para ver amaneceres con gran vista a la campiña aunque hay carteles que anuncian prohibido el paso por peligro de derrumbes....
Jose Antonio Hierro (2 years ago)
Muy bonito pero abandonado y nada cuidado
Fernando Corriplaya (2 years ago)
Muy degradado, pero con unas vistas preciosas
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

Historic Site of the week

Derbent Fortress

Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2020 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.