Fortaleza de la Mota

Fortaleza de la Mota is the most prominent monument in the history of Alcalá la Real. A town in Jaén which once marked the border between the Kingdom of Castile and that of Granada.

Alcalá la Real retains the urban structure of the old Andalusian city on the Cerro de la Mota (at 1,029 metres above sea level), which is the high fortified neighbourhood (Citadel of the Mota), and a lower external core where the population is located. 

The Fortaleza de la Mota (also known as Alcazaba de la Mota, Castle of Alcalá la Real or Monumental Complex of the Mota) is a Nasrid Monumental Complex (13th and 14th centuries). It was built using previous fortifications. In 1931 it was declared a National Monument, and since 1993 it is a Site of Cultural Interest.

It was one of the largest walled perimeters in Andalusia, as it had more than one ring of wall. Today it is surrounded by just one.

Access to the castle is through a semi-circular archway entrance called the “Puerta de la Imagen”. This entrance is formed by a slightly pointed arch and is located at the base of the Tower of Homage. 

This Tower of Homage is square in shape and has only one floor. It is topped with battlements. Its roof is a dome over pendentives. It retains a round-headed elongated opening to the exterior. 

Also preserved in this fortress are two smaller towers. The towers are connected by a stretch of wall. This stretch of wall forms a bailey within the fortress. Remains of the quarters that once surrounded the castle can be seen.

Within the walled enclosure, the Abacial Major Church also stands out, of Renaissance style after being built over a Gothic temple.

Currently, this Monumental Complex houses the Frontier Life Interpretation Centre.