Villena Castle (Castillo de la Atalaya)

The Castillo de la Atalaya in Villena is a superbly preserved 12th-century fortress in the inland Alicante province of the Valencia region, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Almohad military architecture in Spain. The castle crowns a prominent hill on the northern edge of Villena town, dominating the flat agricultural plain of the Vinalopó valley and visible from many kilometres in every direction. Built during the Almohad Berber period of Moorish rule in the 12th century, the castle is notable for the exceptional quality of its circular towers, its slender albarrana (free-standing outer defensive tower), and its sophisticated use of tapial (rammed earth) construction — a technique that has proved remarkably durable across eight centuries. The castle features a square keep (torre del homenaje) and a complex arrangement of inner and outer defensive enclosures. Christian forces captured Villena in 1240 and the castle passed through the hands of successive Spanish noble families, notably Don Juan Manuel — the 14th-century Castilian writer who authored the influential collection of moral tales 'El Conde Lucanor' during his residence here — and later Don Álvaro de Luna, the powerful Castilian constable. The interior rooms and battlements are accessible during opening hours, and views from the walls encompass the entire Vinalopó valley plain. The primary additional reason to visit Villena is the Villena Treasure: a remarkable Bronze Age hoard of 66 gold objects discovered in 1963 and displayed in the Museo Arqueológico 'José María Soler' in the town hall building, considered one of the most important Bronze Age finds in Europe and not to be missed. Villena is readily reached by train from Alicante or Valencia.