Andalucia Rustica

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Castles in Cordoba

Santaella Castle

Castles in Cordoba

Santaella Castle

The Santaella Castle is located at the southeast end of the walled enclosure and despite having been affected by the various buildings that have taken place over time, there has remained a defensive tower of tapial with base of silleria and the structure of the patio of arms.Santaella CastleTo the above are accompanied some partially conserved towers and severqal wall canvases. Everything is surrounded by barranqueras, wich allows to better protect the town and with a gateway that communicates with the current Plaza Mayor of the town.

From a historical point of view, its Islamic origin seems to be demonstrated through Muslim chronicles such as that of Al-Idrisi who mentions it in the twelfth century. For this reason, during Almohad dominion this defensive structure is found. In the late Middle Ages, the information is more accurate. Through the policy of pacts and capitulations effected by Fernando III el Santo between 1239 and 1240 in much of the Cordovan countryside, many castles passed to the Christian side. Among them, it includes the castle and villa that still in the middle of the thirteenth century possessed the combination of Moorish and Christian mayors. In 1265 Alfonso X the Wise will deliver it to the council of the city of Cordoba.

Santaella Castle

Santaella Castle

Santaella Castle

Fortress

Source: Santaella Town Hall


11 comentarios

  1. Charlotte Fertov escribio:

    Please open the nestholes again- or offer the birds another choice for nesting. They come back to the same place every year to nest- its unbearable ti thing they no longer get any refuge.

  2. Domingo escribio:

    Subject: Nesting of Swifts
    As everyone probably knows Andalucía Rústica has nothing to do with the subject, we only offer information about the Santaella Castle as a monument.

    In any case we have been interested in the subject and we have request information from the town hall regarding the swine nesting issue.

    Apparently the Tourism Area of the City of Santaella has begun weeks past the planning and adaptation of different urban spaces to encourage the nesting of swifts and other birds with the aim of promoting the arrival and settlement of these species in the town.

    For the development of the works that will allow adapting the new nesting areas, the town hall is counting on the advice of a member of the SEO BirdLife collective.

    The objective was to plan and adapt the nests before these bird colonies arrive, especially in the area of the Plaza Mayor (square), explained the mayor of the municipality, José A. who stressed the “importance” of this previous action in spaces as the Torreón, since the restoration works have involved the closure of the usual nesting area -The mechinales- to protect and safeguard the structure of the building.

    The area of tourism of the town hall of Santaella has send us several links where the subject is discussed.

    https://www.facebook.com/SantaellaCulturaTurismo/photos/pcb.662140410907055/662115850909511/?type=3&theater

    https://www.diariocordoba.com/noticias/cordobaprovincia/ayuntamiento-habilita-nidos-vencejos-muralla-castillo_1295845.html

    https://www.diariocordoba.com/noticias/cordobaprovincia/turismo-ultima-varias-zonas-anidamiento-vencejos_1284718.html

    http://www.santaelladigital.com/2019/02/santaella-prepara-las-diversas-zonas-de.html

    http://www.santaelladigital.com/2019/04/el-ayuntamiento-inicia-la-adecuacion-de.html

    • Bjarne Østergaard, Denmark escribio:

      Sir! In these EU-election times I feel ashame to have been lead astray 🙁 I do not read Spanish so I rely on Google Translate to follow Spanish webpages. The link-pages you provided are most informative. I understand that all reasonable measures have been taken on an expert level with regard to wildlife while maintenance is undertaken at the tower. Your effort to ensure the swift nesting places have intensified my wish to visit Andalucia and Santaella in particular as a wildlife-turist.
      Can you advise me where I can follow the progress of moving the swifts to the “new” breeding site.

      All the best …

      • Domingo escribio:

        Maybe during your visit to Santaella you have time to visit the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) and ask about the subject, I am sure they will give you all the information you need.

        As I commented in the previous comment, we only intend to give information about the monument itself, but as fervent defenders of nature, fauna and flora, we will continue to be interested in the issue of nesting swifts…

  3. Louise Bentley escribio:

    Dear Sir/ Madam,

    We are very distressed to see the closure of the Swifts nesting site. This may have been done in ignorance but it must be rectified quickly. These birds are declining in numbers and they are 100% faithful to their own nest which they are desperate to return to. I would strongly ask you to get a builder to re-instate many holes somthese birds can breed this year. There is help and advice on how you can do this. From Barcelona Swifts and Swift Conservation UK who have previously worked in partnership with Councils in Andalusia. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY. With regards, James and Louise Bentley

  4. Jesper Toft escribio:

    I am appalled to see that the nestsites of the swifts have been closed. The swifts breed the same place every year and cannot find new nesting sites. Please open the nestsites again asap. The tourists will also like that!

  5. Martine Wauters (Belgium) escribio:

    The European legislation, which has to be applied in Spain as well, forbids to destroy nests. This massive closing of nests is not only illegal but also cruel for those birds that travel 7-10,000 km to breed there. Those insect-eaters are useful but also a source of joy and summertime spirit, they have been part of the turist attraction for centuries.

    Please re-establish the nests without any delay!

  6. gabriele schaden escribio:

    Why have the nest sites of swifts been closed? They are protected species and I am sure you were violating EU laws! Open them immediately, please! The birds desperately try to enter their traditional brooding places. They are very conservative animals and will not switch to other places within days. They will waste their energy trying to enter the closed holes and no offspring will be produced.
    Please act quickly!

  7. Jochem Kühnen escribio:

    Seriously? Are all those holes to which every year birds return from Africa to breed closed now? That is horrible! Please, please undo that and allow the spectacular Swift to return!

  8. Bjarne Østergaard, Denmark escribio:

    Sir / Madam ! The terrible news that the returning swifts, as of 2019, have found their nestsites closed, has shaken the birding community. Seen from a turist point of view, Santaella Castel without circling swifts would be a terrible loss. You will soon find that you will have to increase the use of insectiside to protect your crops. Do open the nest holes again, quickly. The swift screams of horror and terror of now will change to song of joy brought by the birds happiness from a new greneration of chicks.

  9. Mark Smyth escribio:

    Why have the holes been closed to stop swifts nesting?

    Next year the international swift/vencejo comes to Spain. I will urge the organisers to cancel in disgust

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