The construction of the Marmionda Castle dates back to the 12th century, shortly after the beginning of the invasion of Al-Andalus by the Almohads (1147), who ended the Almoravid empire. In 1167, it was conquered by the Christian king of León, Fernando II, who handed it over to the Order of the Temple. Almost thirty years later, in 1196, it was recaptured by the Almohads. In 1213, it was definitively reconquered by Alfonso IX of León, who gave it to the Order of San Julian del Pereiro, later known as the Order of Alcántara.
From Visigothic times to the Middle Ages, there was no better defensive element for the inhabitants of the Alagón Valley than this castle. It was a strategically well-positioned fortress, south of Coria and on the way to Cáceres, with a prior passage through the Tajo River valley. Throughout its history, various reforms took place, with the 16th century being the last of some importance. It was abandoned from the second half of the 17th century.
It is of a square base and consists of the following elements: a pair of circular towers, the keep on the northeast side, and a second tower on the northwest side that was recently reconstructed and restored but whose aesthetics disrupt the overall harmony of the ensemble; large walls (curtains) crowned with crenellations with pyramidal tops; a barbican in front of the wall; an extensive courtyard; and a large cistern.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.