Showing posts with label castle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label castle. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Life is sweet in Salobreña

Those with a sweet tooth will love Salobreña. The town is surrounded by sugar cane that sweeps down to the beaches. Above the town stands the impressive Salobreña Castle. By day, and especially by night, it is the most eye-catching monument on a stretch of coastline that runs from Malaga to Almeria.
Salobreña. Photograph by Tim Irving
Salobreña. Photograph by Tim Irving
There has been a fortification at Salobreña since the 10th century. The Arab castle is a rare example of what could be produced when Moslem and Christian architects worked on a project together. Perhaps it is because such co-operation was rare, that this is one of the most visited monuments in Andalucia.

The inner area combines the former Nasrid fortified palace and the outer areas served as military defence structures and were built by the Christians at the end of the 15th century.

It was one of the most impregnable places on the Al-Andalus coast and for the prisoners who were held there in total darkness - very often until their death - it was hell on earth.

Salobreña - Door. Photograph by Tim Irving

Today it is possible to view where prisoners were held. Others, arguably the lucky ones were thrown from the castle towers on to the rock below.
Fast forward several centuries and the place is much more welcoming. Whilst it is possible to walk around Salobreña in one day, it is not possible to do it justice in that time.

Article by Vernon Grant.
Vernon is my good friend, he's a writer, TV producer and bon viveur. Vernon is the author of Granada Tapas Tours: 100 of the Best Tapas Bars in Granada
You can visit his blog at vern-on-spain.blogspot.com

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