Amics del Museu de Xàbia
  • Home
    • Qui Som?
    • ¿Quienes Somos?
    • About Us
    • Calendario
    • Actas
    • Assemblea anual 2022
  • Blogs
    • Activitats
    • Actividades
    • Activities
    • Museu de Xàbia Blog
  • Projectes
    • Premio de Investigación - Formularios de Inscripción
    • Traducciones Translations >
      • DISPLAY PANELS - GROUND FLOOR >
        • THE STONE AGES - PALAEOLITHIC, EPIPALAEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC
        • CAVE PAINTINGS (ARTE RUPESTRE)
        • CHALCOLITHIC (Copper) & BRONZE AGES
        • THE IBERIAN CULTURE (THE IRON AGE)
        • THE IBERIAN TREASURE OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SETTLEMENTS OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SITE AT PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE MUNTANYAR NECROPOLIS
        • ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIONS OF THE PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE ATZÚBIA SITE
        • THE MINYANA SMITHY
      • Translations archive
      • Quaderns: Versión castellana >
        • 1. La Romanización en las tierras de Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia en la Modernidad
        • 3. La prehistoria de Xàbia y su entorno
      • Quaderns: English versions >
        • 1. Romanisation of Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia in the Modern Era
        • 3. The Prehistory of Xàbia and its surroundings.
    • Catálogo de castillos regionales >
      • Castells / Castillos / Castles - Intro
      • Castillo de Aielo de Rugat
      • Castillo de Alcalá (Benisili)
      • Castillo de Borró
      • Castillo de Carbonera
      • Castillo de Castalla
      • Castillo de Chio /Xiu (Llutxent)
      • Castillo de Enguera
      • Castillo de Montesa
      • Inventario
    • Exposició - Castells Andalusins >
      • Intro - Valenciá
    • Exposición - Castillos Andalusíes >
      • Intro - Castellano
    • Exhibition - Islamic castles >
      • Intro and menu - English
    • Sylvia A. Schofield - Libros donados
    • Mejorar la entrada/improve the entrance >
      • Proyecto - fotos
      • Cartel Roll-up
  • Historia y enlaces
    • Historía de Xàbia >
      • Els papers de l'arxiu, Xàbia / los papeles del archivo
      • La Cova del Barranc del Migdia
      • El Vell Cementeri de Xàbia
      • El Torpedinament del Vapor Germanine
      • El Saladar i les Salines
      • La Telegrafía y la Casa de Cable
      • Pescadores de Xàbia
      • La Caseta de Biot
      • Castell de la Granadella
      • La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war >
        • Intro - La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war
        • El refugi de la guerra del moll de Xàbia
        • l'Arquitectura de la Guerra a Xàbia
        • Planos - Refugi Moll
    • History of Xàbia (English articles) >
      • The Castle of Granadella
      • Ermita del Pòpul - a brief history
      • Telegraphy and the Casa del Cable
      • Civil war architecture in Xàbia
      • Cemetery of San Joan
      • Cova del Migdía
      • Quintus Sertorius - the "Braveheart" of Hispania
    • Charlas y excursiones / talks and excursions >
      • Fotos de actividades
      • Expo Iran - MARQ
      • La Illyeta dels Banyets
      • Al Azraq
      • La Pilota Valenciana
      • Pla de Petracos
      • Cova del Comte - Pedreguer
    • Investigacions del museu - Museum investigations
    • Enllaços
    • Enlaces
    • Links
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • You Tube
  • Visitas virtuales
    • Museu de Xàbia
    • Iglesia de San Bartolomé
    • Capella Santa Anna
    • Ermita de Santa Llúcia
    • Ermita de San Joan
    • Santuario de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels
    • Ermita del Popul
    • Ermita del Calvario
    • Casa tradicional l'Escaldá
    • Casa tradicional Carrer Nou
  • Tenda Tienda Shop
    • Souvenirs
    • Llibres / libros / books
Picture
INTRODUCTION
This exhibition includes twenty-five castles, towers and watchtowers from the Islamic period which are preserved in the mountains, hill-sides and plains of the Marina Alta. This is a rich and little-known heritage, represented by
a number of defensive structures that began to be built after the Muslim conquest of Spain in the eighth century, but especially during the final centuries of Islamic rule.

The structure and function of these fortifications was very different to that of feudal castles established after the Christian conquest by James I. However, in many cases the Christian newcomers took advantage of previous Islamic constructions, and adapted them to new requirements, i.e. to control a mountainous, newly conquered territory occupied by a majority Muslim population, and to provide support and symbols of power to the new feudal order.   

The stimulus for this exhibition was the donation to the Museum of Xàbia of an important set of plans and photographs of more than fifty Valencian castles- several of them from the Marina Alta - which had been made since the 1990’s by Michael Stephenson and his friends Anne Scott and Ted Adams.

The exhibition is made up of fourteen panels that cover the defensive architecture of this, our part of Sharq al-Andalus. The exhibition begins with an historical introduction and characterization of Islamic castles, followed by a description of the more primitive fortifications in the region: the Bastida (Pego), the Cocoll (Castell de Castells), the tossal Pere Antoni (Beniarbeig, Sanet i els Negrals) and Xillibre (Vall de Gallinera).

The castles and towers of the Marina Alta are described from north to south, starting with the impressive fortresses of the Gallinera Valley: Alcalà castle, Castellot d’Alpatró, Penya Foradada tower, Forna castle and Gallinera castle. Followed by Ambra castle (Pego), Segària castle (Benimeli), Blanc de Morell tower (el Verger), the Ocaive castle and Benimarmut tower (Pedreguer) and the watchtower of tossal del Moro (Gata).

Further inland, in the Laguar Valley we find the Plana or Atzavares castle, the Casota tower and castle of Orba. Then in the Xaló valley there are the castles of Aixa and Pop, and in the extreme west, in the headwaters of the valley, Serrella Castle (Castell de Castells).

To the south, there is the castle of Calp, known as the Mascarat, the castle of Berdia (Xaló) - right on top of the Sierra Bernia - and the tower of Canor (Benissa). In Xàbia, the tower of Capçades is shown as being the only defensive structure from the Islamic period to be preserved within the municipality, while others are named which have now completely disappeared. The exhibition ends with a brief note on Michael Stephenson.

MENU

Panel 1 - Historical Introduction

Panel 2 - The Islamic castle

Panel 3 - The earliest fortifications

Panel 4 - Vall de Gallinera - west

Panel 5 - Forna and Gallinera East

​
Panel 6 - Ambra and the Pego valley

Panel 7. Segària and Blanc de Morrell tower

​Panel 8 .Ocaive and its district

Panel 9. Laguar Valley and Orba

Panel 10. Pop, Aixa and Murla

​Panel 11. Serella Castle

Panel 12. Mascarat and Bèrdia

Panel 13. Xàbia

​
Panel 14. Michael Stevenson

Glossary and selected references

PDF file of exhibition texts and Timeline

Location Map
Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Qui Som?
    • ¿Quienes Somos?
    • About Us
    • Calendario
    • Actas
    • Assemblea anual 2022
  • Blogs
    • Activitats
    • Actividades
    • Activities
    • Museu de Xàbia Blog
  • Projectes
    • Premio de Investigación - Formularios de Inscripción
    • Traducciones Translations >
      • DISPLAY PANELS - GROUND FLOOR >
        • THE STONE AGES - PALAEOLITHIC, EPIPALAEOLITHIC AND NEOLITHIC
        • CAVE PAINTINGS (ARTE RUPESTRE)
        • CHALCOLITHIC (Copper) & BRONZE AGES
        • THE IBERIAN CULTURE (THE IRON AGE)
        • THE IBERIAN TREASURE OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SETTLEMENTS OF XÀBIA
        • THE ROMAN SITE AT PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE MUNTANYAR NECROPOLIS
        • ARCHITECTURAL DECORATIONS OF THE PUNTA DE L'ARENAL
        • THE ATZÚBIA SITE
        • THE MINYANA SMITHY
      • Translations archive
      • Quaderns: Versión castellana >
        • 1. La Romanización en las tierras de Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia en la Modernidad
        • 3. La prehistoria de Xàbia y su entorno
      • Quaderns: English versions >
        • 1. Romanisation of Xàbia
        • 2. Xàbia in the Modern Era
        • 3. The Prehistory of Xàbia and its surroundings.
    • Catálogo de castillos regionales >
      • Castells / Castillos / Castles - Intro
      • Castillo de Aielo de Rugat
      • Castillo de Alcalá (Benisili)
      • Castillo de Borró
      • Castillo de Carbonera
      • Castillo de Castalla
      • Castillo de Chio /Xiu (Llutxent)
      • Castillo de Enguera
      • Castillo de Montesa
      • Inventario
    • Exposició - Castells Andalusins >
      • Intro - Valenciá
    • Exposición - Castillos Andalusíes >
      • Intro - Castellano
    • Exhibition - Islamic castles >
      • Intro and menu - English
    • Sylvia A. Schofield - Libros donados
    • Mejorar la entrada/improve the entrance >
      • Proyecto - fotos
      • Cartel Roll-up
  • Historia y enlaces
    • Historía de Xàbia >
      • Els papers de l'arxiu, Xàbia / los papeles del archivo
      • La Cova del Barranc del Migdia
      • El Vell Cementeri de Xàbia
      • El Torpedinament del Vapor Germanine
      • El Saladar i les Salines
      • La Telegrafía y la Casa de Cable
      • Pescadores de Xàbia
      • La Caseta de Biot
      • Castell de la Granadella
      • La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war >
        • Intro - La Guerra Civil / the Spanish civil war
        • El refugi de la guerra del moll de Xàbia
        • l'Arquitectura de la Guerra a Xàbia
        • Planos - Refugi Moll
    • History of Xàbia (English articles) >
      • The Castle of Granadella
      • Ermita del Pòpul - a brief history
      • Telegraphy and the Casa del Cable
      • Civil war architecture in Xàbia
      • Cemetery of San Joan
      • Cova del Migdía
      • Quintus Sertorius - the "Braveheart" of Hispania
    • Charlas y excursiones / talks and excursions >
      • Fotos de actividades
      • Expo Iran - MARQ
      • La Illyeta dels Banyets
      • Al Azraq
      • La Pilota Valenciana
      • Pla de Petracos
      • Cova del Comte - Pedreguer
    • Investigacions del museu - Museum investigations
    • Enllaços
    • Enlaces
    • Links
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • You Tube
  • Visitas virtuales
    • Museu de Xàbia
    • Iglesia de San Bartolomé
    • Capella Santa Anna
    • Ermita de Santa Llúcia
    • Ermita de San Joan
    • Santuario de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels
    • Ermita del Popul
    • Ermita del Calvario
    • Casa tradicional l'Escaldá
    • Casa tradicional Carrer Nou
  • Tenda Tienda Shop
    • Souvenirs
    • Llibres / libros / books