Castillo Árabe
The Arab Castle of Zagra was part of the first defensive line of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. However, archaeological evidence suggests the site was occupied for several centuries earlier. The castle of Zagra stands on a rocky limestone outcrop (peńa) at an altitude of 805m above sea level.
The peña provides a natural defence, as well as providing extensive visibility of the surrounding territory, making it an ideal location for a frontier stronghold. The surviving remains reveal two distinct enclosures: an exterior that once contained the settlement known as the villa, and an upper inner enclosure, or alcazaba, which served as the military citadel. Several towers remain partially intact, together with significant sections of the defensive walls and other structures.
After the Christian conquest, the castle was entrusted to a Castilian warden who tried and failed to establish control over the surrounding lands. However, as the fortress had previously been under the direct control of the Nasrid sultan and lacked its own jurisdiction, the lands were subsequently distributed among Christian settlers. Zagra was therefore one of the frontier settlements that characterised the western border of the Nasrid Kingdom, where castles played a key role in defending and monitoring the kingdom's territory. Located on Calle Castillo Alto.