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Mver (2 years ago)
GAIVS AURELIVS VALERIVS DIOCLETIANVS AVGVSTVS (3 years ago)
Coria Castle was constructed by architect Juan Carrera, between 1473 and 1478, by order of García Álvarez de Toledo (died 1488), Duke of Alba and first Marquis of Coria. Located to the northwest of the Roman City Walls, this work of military engineering was constructed in place of another fortification occupied by the Knights Templar in the 12th century. It has an irregular pentagon layout, like a starling, which projects from the walled enclosure and was built with fine masonry of perfectly dressed and squared granite ashlars.
The Keep is completed by what is popularly known as Castillejo: a small crenellated structure within the city walls that is equipped with a bent entrance and a drawbridge. It was defended through a circular casemate tower and an extensive moat constructed by Tomás Bretón in 1473, which is partially visible today. Crowning the entire fortified complex is the continuous band of the cornice of balls or knobs placed in the blind arches over the corbels surrounding the entire perimeter of the battlements in the Late-Gothic or Elizabethan style.
Today, the interior of the Castle of the Dukes of Alba is not open to the public since it is private property, however, visitors can explore its surrounding area or exterior space.
References:Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.