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Corner entrance to the parade ground

We have walked the last section of the stairway that changes direction from East to West and that has led us to the access to the fortress. On the left we have left behind the partition wall and at the end of the section we have entered through the access door to the fortress, which is protected by a barbican and topped by a shield, presumably from the Christian period.

We are now at the corner entrance to the fortress. In front we find an outcrop of natural stone that narrows the path to access the parade ground, on our left there is an access door to the later construction Tower of Homage. In the background on the right, we find the original access to the parade ground. The corner entrance was intended to make access difficult for attackers, especially if the attack was carried out with battering rams. Defense could be practiced from the battlements and access to this narrow curved enclosure made it extremely difficult to turn this siege weapon. This space was completely hermetic, and was designed to surprise the invader from the walkway, from inside the Tower of Homage and even from its roof.

Aerial view of the corner entrance to the fortress.
Aerial view of the corner entrance from the Tower of Homage.
Puerta de acceso a la fortaleza

Access door

The access door, in a semicircular arch, is protected by a battlemented wall and a barbican accessible from the defense wall or walkway. The arch still conserves —just above the keystone— the reserved space that once had to be occupied by a coat of arms, possibly of Christian origin.

Vista cenital del acceso en recodo.

Corner access

The corner access to the parade ground allowed a better defense against an attack with siege weapons due to the narrowness and difficulty of turning to access the fortress. It is protected with battlements and connected to the walkway. Its southeast corner is closed by one of the two flanking cubes available to the fortress.

Puerta de acceso al sótano de la torre del homenaje

Access to the Tower of Homage

It is a question of a later door practiced in the Tower of Homage after the Arab dominion. The 2004 intervention made it accessible from a wooden stairway and also maintained the shooting chamber that exists in its lintel both outside and inside.

Puerta de acceso al patio de armas

Access to the parade ground

Final entrance to the parade ground. It runs parallel to the walkway and is practiced taking advantage of the space between it and the natural rock of the corner.

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