Castle of Santiago

The Castle of Santiago in Sanlúcar de Barrameda is located in the Cava del Castillo of Barrio Alto, at the northeast corner of the ancient citadel that existed in the times of Guzmán el Bueno - the first Lord of Sanlúcar. Right at the edge of the escarpment that divides the town into two levels. 

It was built by the House of Medina Sidonia between 1477 and 1478, thanks to Enrique Pérez de Guzmán and Meneses - II Duke of Medina Sidonia and VII Lord of Sanlúcar. A large and imposing fortress to defend the bank and mouth of the Guadalquivir.

It was the first place where the Dukes of Medina Sidonia lived in this locality. Throughout its history, it was used as barracks, a prison, and a hospital.

The town of Sanlúcar came under the jurisdiction of Jerez in 1264. But it was granted to Don Alfonso Pérez Guzmán by Sancho IV, in reward for his heroism defending the plaza of Tarifa. Since then, the urban ensemble was organized around the ancient Muslim primitive castle of the Seven Towers. 

Guzmán el Bueno ordered the construction of enclosures and walls at the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th century. And the Castle of Santiago was finally built between 1477 and 1478.

Its layout is quadrangular, with a central courtyard. At its corners, it is defended by quadrangular towers and semicylindrical towers at the centres of the curtains. The ensemble is protected by a first line of defence consisting of a crenellated barbican with semicylindrical towers at the curtains. 

It was the lodging of the Catholic Monarchs the same year it was built. The Keep Tower stands out at the north vertex with a hexagonal layout, said to be the place from where Queen Isabella the Catholic first saw the sea. It was armed from its construction until the beginning of the 18th century when it lost defensive importance due to the constant river retreats.

At the end of the same century, it was threatened with ruin, suffering several renovations and transformations during the 19th century. It served as accommodation for French troops during the War of Independence.