The castle of San Martín de Valdeiglesias

Built by Álvaro de Luna in the 15th century as a residence and hunting lodge, the castle of San Martín de Valdeiglesias may have even earlier origins dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries under Alfonso VIII of Castilla. The property was primarily manorial before becoming royal. Its current name, 'de la Coracera', comes from a former owner named Antonio Corcuera, whose surname degenerated over time. The specific name was actually sparked by a typo in a promotional brochure in the 1970s.

Throughout history, the fortress was used by various historical figures, including Queen Isabel la Católica, who resided there when she was proclaimed heir to the Crown of Castilla. In the 19th century, it was held by the Baron of the Sacro Lirio for recreational and hunting purposes. During the Civil War, General Kindelán established his headquarters there, using a powerful transmission team in the tower of the homage.

Today, the castle is owned by the Fundación Castillo de la Coracera, established in 2003 by the local government and a private individual. They are rehabilitating the building for public use to house the Museo de los Vinos de Madrid and other facilities for tourism and culture. The fortress is built of Berroqueña stone and features a square layout with a pentagonal tower of homage and a barbican standing four meters tall.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons