Rabita

Guardamar del Segura, Spain

The mediaeval Islamic Caliphate Rabita (Ribat in English) is situated in Park Alfonso XIII next to the site of the Phoenician city of La Fonteta near the River Segura’s mouth.

It is the only monastic Islamic monument from the Umayyad Andalusian period (10th-11th century AD) preserved almost completely. It consists of 23 praying cells, with its own Mihrab, organised around two main streets. In this monastery, you would have found religious men, the faithful who stayed here and pilgrims performing the Ribat. They were all attracted by the spiritual retreat required by Islam to its followers.

The finding of this Rabita is remarkable for its uniqueness. It is the first example of this type of religious building in the Iberian Peninsula.

References:

guardamarturismo.com

Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain

Address

Guardamar del Segura, Spain

See all sites in Guardamar del Segura

Details

Founded: 10th century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain

More Information

guardamarturismo.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Garry James Butterfield (4 months ago)
Amazing so see the architecture of time so long ago.... Great walk... Abit hilly if your not a great walker.

Vanesa García Pamies (8 months ago)
I'm glad that you can enter with dogs and that it's free.... ?❤️

Aurora Solstad (14 months ago)
Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 09:00-14:30. It's an old Muslim Monastery from 944AD

SD BG (16 months ago)
Historical place to walk and learn from our ancestors. Free entry, the guy at the entrance was super friendly and polite. They also do cultural tours from the park for a reduced price.

Melony Morgan (2 years ago)
Interesting place in Guardamar

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright mixteri

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse

Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.

German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.

After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.