A strategic fortified village in Granada

The Castillo de Íllora is a defensive enclosure located in the city of Íllora, in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The original construction of the first two enclosures dates to a period prior to the Nasrids, possibly the Taifa period. Masonry reinforcements in these structures, and the outer wall of the third enclosure, were built during the existence of the Reino Nazarí de Granada in the mid-14th century to reinforce the fortress due to its important strategic position in the defense of the Vega de Granada and its proximity to the border with Jaén.

To reinforce the defensive role of the castle, a series of watchtowers were built, which allowed it to be visually connected with the surveillance systems of the Castillo de Montefrío and those of Moclín. The most important of these towers are the Torre de Brácana and the watchtowers of La Mesa and La Gallina.

In reality, the site is a fortified village that served as both a fortress and a populated core. It was originally formed by three distinct enclosures and a fortified suburb located to the west of those. All the enclosures were surrounded by walls. In the highest enclosure, measuring about 65 x 25 m of surface area and situated on a rocky outcrop, lies the castle proper, with walls and towers built in tapial and reinforced with masonry. In some of the tapial sections, there are large embrasures (80 x 90 cm). However, no interior construction remains, except for a large cistern with concrete work, which originally had three naves, a semi-circular arch, and interior brick walls.

The second walled enclosure, relatively wide, is located below the first one on its eastern side and constituted the village, where remains of structures corresponding to houses still exist. This space was separated by walls from both the castle and the exterior. The third enclosure is defined by the outer wall of the second and by a new wall made entirely of masonry, with courses of rubble and an alternation of square and circular towers. Its main role is to serve as access to the fortified village through a corner door built in tapial, which is heavily modified by a new masonry door with a brick arch. The path between the walls is paved, which appears later, possibly from a Christian era.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons