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The Islamic fortress of Castillo de Xiquena

The Islamic fortress of Castillo de Xiquena

Photo: Ilaura / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0 , resized

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Nicolo Ciampini Nicolo Ciampini

Situated on a small hill near the Corneros river, the fortress of Castillo de Xiquena is an Islamic structure with limited surviving remains.

Perched on a hill in Fontanares, a pedanía of the municipality of Lorca, the Islamic fortress of Castillo de Xiquena is a crumbling structure now included in the Lista roja de patrimonio en peligro. From this site, the castles of Tirieza, Puentes, Vélez Rubio, and Vélez-Blanco can be spotted.

Many authors argue that the name Xiquena comes from Gikena or Gehenna and means "infierno". In contrast, others attribute its origin to a nearby farm and a Roman source. The castle was taken by the Crown of Castilla in 1433 and is currently cataloged as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

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Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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