As you approach the next stop, take a look to your left. You'll spot the Castillo de Ayora, a stunning, albeit weathered, fortress. The remnants of the castle are quite prominent, with their sturdy stone walls rising directly from the rocky terrain. Look for the large quadrangular structure, featuring a mix of stone and exposed rammed-earth construction.
The Castle of Ayora sits proudly at 552 meters (1,811 feet) above sea level, right in the heart of Ayora. This grand structure likely dates back to the mid-13th century, built after the Reconquista on top of an ancient Arabian building. Imagine a massive architectural ensemble that consisted of a four-storey residence-palace, a couple of fortified towns, and a large keep surrounded by defensive walls stretching about 0.62 miles (1,000 meters). It even had aljibes - those ingenious medieval cisterns for collecting rainwater.
The castle has quite a history. It was reduced to ruins by Philip V’s troops during the War of the Spanish Succession. Despite the destruction, the keep, the distinctive Puerta Falsa (Fake Door) with the coat of arms of the Marchioness of Cenete, defensive walls, towers, buckets, moats, and cisterns still stand out.
Declared a property of cultural interest in 2006, the castle's timeline is a bustling narrative of power shifts. From the Aragonese capturing it in the 13th century, to the Treaty of Almizra handing it to the Castilians, and the Treaty of Elche placing it back under Aragonese control in 1305 - Ayora has seen it all.
The 16th century brought its transformation into a palace, commissioned by Lady Mencía de Mendoza. However, in 1707, the castle was taken by assault, looted, and set ablaze by Philip V’s troops, leaving it largely in ruins. The site was revisited and described as ruined by botanist Antonio José Cavanilles in 1797, and further damaged by French forces in 1812.
Wandering around this historical site, try to visualize its bustling past - from its strategic defensive role to its once opulent halls and lush gardens, surrounded by vast walls. The stories these ruins could tell would make any historian's heart race!
