Estepa Castle, Estepa, Spain

Estepa castle was known in the Islamic period as Hisn Istabba, and was taken by Spanish king Fernando III on 15 August 1241.

The city walls that still surround the old town on the San Cristóbal hill were first built in the tenth century by the Moors, renovated by Almohad invaders in the twelfth, and again reconstructed when Estepa fell to the Christian Order of Santiago in the thirteenth century. The keep inside the walls was built against attacks from Granada in the fourteenth century, and at 26 metres offers sweeping views of the town and surrounding countryside.

A defensive tower built by Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, Master of Santiago, it carried out defensive and logistical functions, measuring 26 metres high by 13 metres wide. On clear days, you can see Sierra Nevada from the roof.

References:

andalucia.com

User Reviews

francisco estevez (5 months ago)
Very expensive to see simple ruins; If they included a visit to the convent or the church, it would still be worth it...the very friendly guides and the spectacular views, yes.

Tomás Rincón García (11 months ago)
Although the keep stands out, good work has been done to recover this fortress and enhance its value. Its walls closely monitor the passage of time in this Sevillian town.

Maica Sánchez Martínez (3 years ago)
Despite how little is left standing. The guide has offered us a magnificent visit, with great explanations and has taken us from the Tartessian settlement period to the present day. We have learned a lot about the magnificent history of Estepa, seeing archaeological remains, walls, the keep, and the impressive views of a green countryside, dotted by numerous Sevillian and Cordoban towns. Also in the distance you could see the provinces of Málaga and Granada, looming, Sierra Nevada in the distance.

José A Díaz (3 years ago)
Located on the San Cristóbal hill next to the main church, to enjoy a quiet place and beautiful views.

Isabel M Dorado Fernández (3 years ago)
What an incredible place!! It surprised me a lot. It is a magical place. They explained the history of the Alcazaba and Estepa to us in a theater in the Alcazaba. Very entertaining. The origin of the mantecados, and the accent of its people... its wealth... its battles all narrated by a character... Aguilar y Cano...

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Estepa Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus