Situated on a rocky promontory in Castro-Urdiales, the Castillo de Santa Ana is one of the best-preserved castles. It is part of a complex that includes a fortified church from the 13th century, ruins of a 12th-century church, and the ermita de Santa Ana joined by a bridge. The site offers clear views of the sea, the port, and the town. In 1853, a lighthouse was built inside the enclosure, utilizing a former chapel for its machinery.
The fortress features a pentagonal plan with corner cylindrical towers measuring 15 meters in height. These towers protect a rectangular enclosure that contains a 17 by 7 meter hall covered by a barrel vault. One of the cylinders actually covers a triangular space that extends from the interior rectangle toward the town, while the other four act as counterforts for the vault of the living space. The structure is built of cyclopean stones bonded with lime and lacks windows, meaning defense could only be conducted from the towers.
While the exact founding date of the castle is unknown, construction on the current building began in the 12th century. It underwent various modifications before being abandoned in the 16th century. In the 20th century, the lighthouse keeper's house was demolished during restoration. The castle was declared a historic-artistic ensemble in 1978, along with the rest of the historical area of Castro-Urdiales.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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