Tarifa was significant during the Islamic period due to its strategic location. Starting from the caliphal castle, three successive walled enclosures were built: Almedina (of which a spectacular gate of the same name is preserved), Aljaranda and the last and largest known as Arrabal, with its main entrance was Jerez Gate. As the city grew, some sections were enclosed between houses, and their structures were sometimes used for other constructions. Today, Tarifa is still a fortified city, one of the best-preserved in Spain.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez.Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photo: General Map Fortified Route<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1- CASTLE OF GUZMAN EL BUENO 2- WATCHTOWER OR TOWER OF SANTA MARIA<\/strong> 3- MIRAMAR TOWER 4- MADEROS TOWER 5- SANTIAGO POSTERN AND FRONT<\/strong> 6- JESUS TOWER<\/strong> 7- RETIRO GATE 8- CORCHUELO TOWER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This L-shaped tower boasts substantial dimensions as is customary for towers that mark the corners of fortified cities. It was selected as the boundary for the latest expansion of the wall, known as the Arrabal, as it rests upon a large rock at an elevated level, overlooking the city. Along this stretch, the wall features large towers and remains free of attached buildings until reaching the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa 9-CILLA BREACH<\/strong> This breach in the wall is often associated with another siege that Tarifa enfaced at the hands of the French army, in this case in 1824, by the so-called \u201cl’exp\u00e9dition d’Espagne\u201d or the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis who came to Spain to support Ferdinand VII. They set up their camp in the Franciscan convent of San Juan del Prado, located outside the city walls, and bombarded the city until it surrendered. However, it seems that the breach actually occurred at another point, closer to Jerez Gate. We can see the section of the wall that rests on natural rock and is formed by a masonry plinth, along with an elevated portion constructed using the tapial technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa 10-VAULTED CHAMBER TOWER<\/strong> 11-JEREZ GATE<\/strong> Inside, you can see the stones that held the axis of the Muslim doors and the original horseshoe arches. Among them, at a height, there is a cloister vault painted. Image:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Image: SIDE PHOTO, VIEW VAN DEN WYNGAERDE? 13. ALAMEDA OR SAN JULIAN ARCH 14- P\u00d3SITO TOWER<\/strong> Image: VIEW VAN DEN WINGAERDE, INTERIOR VIEW \/ FLOOR PLAN? 15-ALMEDINA GATE<\/strong> Image: 16-ROYAL PRISON Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa Image: 17- MACHO TOWER<\/strong> Image: Macho Tower (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18-ADARVE (Rampart)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The term “adarve,” comes from the Arabic word “darb,” designates the space that runs along the top of the wall where troops move. The street owes its name, Independencia (Independence), to being the point where the French army concentrated their attacks during the Christmas siege of 1811-1812. The defenders repelled the assault by digging trenches in it. To visit the adarve of the wall, please inquire at Guzm\u00e1n el Bueno Castle for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa Image: Tarifa was significant during the Islamic period due to its strategic location. Starting from the caliphal castle, three successive walled enclosures were built: Almedina (of which a spectacular gate of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-251208","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/strong>Its construction is actually attributed to Abd al-Rahman III, first Umayyad caliph of Al-Andalus, which purpose was to control the Strait facing its Fatimid rivals in North Africa. During the Almohad period, it was reinforced with a barbican or a wall outside of, and after the Christian conquest in 1292, the Tower of Homage was erected. During the 15th and 16th centuries, it was enriched with decorations and adapted as a noble residence by Enr\u00edquez de Ribera family, descendants of Guzm\u00e1n el Bueno.
The octagonal tower in front of us is an albarrana tower which tradition places as the spot where Guzm\u00e1n el Bueno threw his dagger (hence its name). It likely had more height originally. Next to it, the river that crossed the town flowed, through a portcullis in the wall.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This slender tower receives its two names, on the one hand, due to its privileged location on a promontory with good visibility and, on the other hand, due to its proximity to the intramural church of Santa Maria. It marks the beginning of the walled enclosure of Almedina, built on a rocky outcrop by the sea. At its base, where the Port is now located, there were at least in the 16th and 17th centuries some shipyards.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: View of the Tower<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Originally, this large tower closed the southeast corner of the first urban wall, that of Almedina, which turned inward from here. It was later renovated. Its walls are enriched with reused Roman columns and painted and incised decorations in lime including a large sloping base where the sea almost used to reach.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: Sgraffito details decoration on the side (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa) -General view of the tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also known as Tower of Saavedra, it is one of the main towers of the Aljaranda enclosure. It was remodeled and expanded to house artillery in 1771 by Governor Isidro de Peralta, as indicated by an inscription on the corner. Graffitis from the 18th century depicting sailboats, a bagpipe, or a well-executed female face are preserved in the plaster.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image:
-Photo of Isidro de Peralta’s inscription (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)
-Graffiti on the plaster (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)
-Side where the original tower and the addition are visible (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the attacks on the city have occurred in this sector since there is a hill opposite the wall at the same height. Below the current street, there used to be a moat.
The Christian conquest in 1292 took place through this postern or small gate, connecting with the homonymous church inside the walls, named Santiago as the patron saint of Spain, a common dedication in times of conquest. It was recently rediscovered.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: B\/W photo with a path<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is named after a carving of Christ which, also, gave a second name to the church of Santiago where it was located, and, by extension, to the entire neighborhood. The tower is large, as it defends a corner. After the Christian conquest, it was renovated, and in modern times, a battery was installed. At its base, remains of the barbican or outer wall are preserved.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: Tower of Jesus with the barbican at its base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The stream of Tarifa, which was diverted in the late 19th century, entered the city through a sluice located on it. Although one side, and part of the vault of the land passage, is preserved, the gate was demolished in 1895. In its place stands the statue of General Copons, defender of Tarifa during the Peninsular War that occurred on Christmas 1811-12 in this sector.
It had to be reconstructed by British engineers with sloping walls, while the tower flanking the gate to the north was renovated to house artillery in 1812, as indicated by an inscription. Old architecture, even defensive structures, was typically plastered with lime and sometimes decorated to enhance its appearance and protect it from erosion.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image:
-Preserved side of Retiro Gate (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)
-Tower of the Paintings (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)
-Sector restored by British engineers (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image:
-View of the wall in the 19th century (Institut Cartogr\u00e1fic de Catalunya).
-View of Corchuelo Tower (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its name comes from the nearby storage of the \u201cdecimal cilla,” where tithes paid to the church from the crops of the area were deposited. A “cilla” is a term used to refer to a place intended for the storage of grain or agricultural products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: Cilla Breach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the only tower in the entire walled enclosure that, due to its preserved height, has an upper chamber or room covered by a pendentive vault in brick (although there may have been more). Nowadays, it houses a room of a hostel establishment. The original access was from the wall’s parapet.
Texto: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
Image: Photo of the vault (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the main gate of the last walled enclosure. Originally, two towers flanked it, taller than the current ones. In Christian period, the space between the towers was closed with a pointed arch, followed by a barrel vault with a slot for a portcullis. Its demolition began in 1868 but fortunately, although its height had already been reduced, it was halted and had to be regularized with the merlons we see today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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This imposing corner tower takes its name from a hermitage that was located nearby, also known as San Roque hermitage, where the first Christian cemetery outside the walls of the modern city was established. From its height, one can admire the city and the harbor..<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>It owes its name to a chapel dedicated to this saint that was located inside the walls and also gives its name to a street. Popularly known as the Alameda Gap, this postern was opened in the wall in 1835 to connect it with the outside. In its passage, we can observe interesting contemporary artistic elements.
Image: Exterior of the arch.
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Flet<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Although heavily modified, and lacking most of its towers, a significant portion of the wall crowned with embrasures is preserved in the Alameda. Only doors and balconies were added from the late 19th century.
This impressive structure from the 15th century stands out, overlooking the exterior as a bulwark. It housed the public butcher on its two floors and, for a period, also the granary (p\u00f3sito) accessed from Sant\u00edsima Trinidad Street. The facade is distinguished by a large pointed arch and an almost faded painted inscription. Inside, it features sturdy columns and wide flying arches, just like the upper floor accessed by a ramp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Medina (city in Arabic) was the entrance to the first walled enclosure. Dating back to the 11th-12th centuries, its intricate and unique structure in Al-Andalus includes arches of varied designs with spaces for portcullises between them. Its layout forms a bend, allowing it to bridge the height difference between Guzm\u00e1n el Bueno Street and the castle. Until the 17th century, Almedina remained the last defensive stronghold of Tarifa.
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Photo of the outer arch, with alternating brick and stone voussoirs (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa).
-Photo of inner arches, with reused Roman columns (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Its construction took the structure of the ancient wall of Aljaranda, which had its northwest corner here. In the courtyard, there is a large tower, and the corner of its facade serves as the barbican. Chambers with barrel vaults were built between towers, some of them superimposed. Its use as a prison persisted until the mid-20th century, and nowadays, it serves as the venue for a municipal exhibition hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-Tower in the courtyard (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa).
-Prison Vault (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This curious name refers to a tower in the northern enclosure of Aljaranda which became absorbed by the city development and isolated as the curtain walls were demolished. The alley that bears its name, La bajada del Macho, originally extended to the Moral neighborhood. There, at the end of Gravina Street, the remains of the next tower in the enclosure are preserved.
Text: Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This section of the adarve of Tarifa fortification, corresponding to the Arrabal and Aljaranda enclosure, is open to visitors. From there, magnificent views of the city and the surroundings can be enjoyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Translation: Juan Glez. Fleta<\/p>\n\n\n\n
-View from the adarve of the wall
-Independencia Street (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)
-Adarve in one of the blocks of houses (Alejandro P\u00e9rez-Malumbres Landa)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"