The possible pantheon of the Murcian emirs

The Castillo de la Asomada is a military fortification situated at the mountain pass of La Cadena between the Campo de Cartagena and the Huerta de Murcia. Perched at 532 meters on the Cabezo del Puerto, the structure is built from rammed earth and served as a strategic point of control. Today, the site is located within the Carrascoy - El Valle natural park, though the N-301 highway now creates an architectural barrier that separates the castle from the Portazgo complex.

Historical origins date back to the Islamic era, possibly around the 12th century during the Taifas period in the Region of Murcia. The Cabezo del Puerto, where the castle is located, is the only archaeological point revealing that the locality of Murcia had an occupation prior to the construction of later castles. The site is noted for its strategic role in controlling communications and has served as an important lookout point from the Mediterranean coast toward the city of Murcia.

Architecturally, the nearby Castillo del Portazgo Superior is described as a fortified palace, a type characteristic of the Eastern Mediterranean. In contrast, the Castillo de la Asomada may have been relegated to a pantheon for the Murcian emirs, although its internal structure cannot be determined with certainty and no burial remains have been found within the walls. The complex also includes the Castillo del Portazgo Inferior, which may have served as a place to house a garden or exotic animals imported from the East.

Records from 1266 by Jaime I of Aragon support the hypothesis of a pantheon, mentioning that the kings of Murcia were buried in the mountains near Cartagena. It is suggested that the structure might have been incomplete or destroyed in 1266 by Abu Bark b. Jadu, the last emir of Murcia, who may have dismantled the pantheon and taken the remains of his ancestors with him.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons