Atalaya Castle — Attraction in Villena

I went only a few days ago with my son and daughter to see this lovely, well-preserved castle. The young ladies at the Info Desk were very helpful and one of them accompanied us to the castle door, where we were told the guide was waiting for us. It was approximately 4.30pm. As soon as we entered the gate, we saw there were another 5 people waiting to start the tour. The guide explained that he could only take 5 tourists at a time around the castle so we would have to stand well away. He indicated a point for us to stand where we couldn’t hear anything he said! We had asked to hear the descriptions in Spanish but being so far from him and the others was useless. We asked if we should come back later when he had finished with the first group and he replied that it was impossible as the castle closes at 6pm so we wouldn’t have time to do the tour. We did our best reading the written indications on signs and in the brochure, then at the tower the guide told us we couldn’t go inside with the group as we would be too close. We understand the Covid restrictions and stood where he told us to stay to be distant from his group, obviously still out of earshot, then a couple of tourists strolled in and went to join the first group! They were close enough to to show the guide something on their brochure so not at regulation distance. Then another couple with 2 children walked into the Tower and joined the others!!!! The guide did not enforce any distance on this family. What about us????? I do realise that the entrance fee is extremely good value but when we left the castle, we went to the Info office to complain. Nobody suggested we returned the next day or any other time to actually get our guided tour but we still do not understand why others were allowed to join the first group of 5 and we were made to stay at a great distance. We were not made to feel welcome even though we respected the Guide’s requests and the Covid restrictions. I would suggest that anybody wanting to have a guided tour of the Castle makes sure they will get it before paying...

"Rising up from the mountain of Saint Christopher at an altitude of 550 metres, the castle is strategically located on the corridor of the River Vinalopó, giving it control of passage towards the lands and valleys of Castilla La Mancha, the valley of Montesa and the lands of Valencia and Murcia.

The fortress now allows us to distinguish the two key periods in its history: Islamic and Feudal.

Its construction began with the Almohads in the late 12th century, employing the rammed earth building technique to raise the ramparts and the first two floors of the keep. This involved compressing a damp mixture of sand, gravel and lime into an externally supported frame or mould, creating a solid wall.

Various changes took place after the Christian conquest in the 14th and 15th centuries, which included the stone reinforcement of the existing ramparts, the enlargement of the keep using masonry, which reflects how the tower looks today, and the construction of an outer wall or barrier surrounding the entire fortress, in line with Castilian traditions. As a result, it was transformed into a magnificent late medieval construction whose structure and appearance allow us to place it amongst the large castles that marked the extensive Marquisate...

If you follow the signs to this place rather than your sat nav it takes you to a small car park next to the Tourist Information where you can buy tickets for the castle. The castle is a few minutes walk and the custodian on the gate is very helpful and knowledgeable with very good English. The castle is superb - a 10th century Arab core that was expanded and updated after the Christian conquest. It has been well restored and there is a very good route that you can follow which covers the curtain walls, inner bailey and keep. There are lots of information boards as you walk through and some great little features like the drawings done by Italian prisoners in the 13th (?) century and marks from the cannonball damage in the eighteenth century siege. The views from the tower roof are both awe inspiring and nauseating if you look over the edge! The medieval core of the city looks interesting too although it is swamped by less than attractive modern development. A great castle to visit and very good value (€3 for an adult) for the couple of hours we...