Castle of Narros de Saldueña (Ávila)

South-west view of the castle

The Castle of the Duke of Montellano was likely commissioned by Rodrigo de Valderrávano, a councilman of Ávila, husband of Doña Beatriz de Guzmán, and son of Fernán González de Valderrábano (the founder of this entailed estate). It is also known as the Castle of the Duke of Montellano, a title granted along with the County of Saldueña by Philip V in the 18th century. The complex comprises two walled enclosures: the inner one features high walls with watchtowers or turrets at three of its corners, while the outer one is lower and includes an entrance barbican. The square-plan homage tower stands at one end of the inner enclosure. Its architectural style falls within the Valladolid School; castles of this school are characterized by having been built by noble families who were influential or held significant administrative positions.

South-west main facade of the castle

Barbican featuring the castle's entrance gate

Defensive portcullis of the entrance gate

Eastern canvas of the outer south-west wall

South-west wall of the castle body

Battlements on the south-west wall of the castle

South view of the castle

Sentry box or bay window situated at the upper south corner of the castle

Detail of the stone corbels supporting the bay window

South-east wall

Western canvas of the outer south-east wall of the castle

Barbican projecting from the castle's south-east outer wall

Battlements above the barbican of the south-east outer wall

Eastern canvas of the outer south-east wall of the castle

Embrasure beneath the battlements of the eastern corner

of the castle's outer enclosure

Eastern canvas of the south-east wall of the castle body

Eastern view of the castle

Sentry box or bay window located at the upper east corner of the castle

North-east view of the castle

Western canvas of the north-east outer wall of the castle

Barbican projecting from the castle's north-east outer wall

Eastern canvas of the north-east outer wall of the castle

North-east wall of the castle body

Detail of the window above the north-east wall of the castle body

Battlements on the north-east wall of the castle

North-east side of the castle homage tower

Sentry box or bay window situated at the upper northern corner of the castle

North-west view of the castle

North-west wall

Western canvas of the castle's north-west outer wall

Battlements atop the western canvas of the north-west outer wall

Battlements atop the castle's north-west wall

North view of the castle's homage tower

Battlements atop the terrace of the castle's homage tower

Barbican of the north-west outer wall of the castle

Castle of Puebla de Sanabria (Zamora)

Eastern view of the castle from the bank of the Tera River

The Castle of the Counts of Benavente was built in the mid-15th century (1455-1499) on the site of a High Medieval fortress by Rodrigo Alonso Pimentel, the 4th Count of Benavente. It occupies a privileged position on the promontory where the city's old town is located. Built on a quadrangular plan, it is guarded by semi-cylindrical towers that are unevenly distributed, a drawbridge, and all dominated by the large, freestanding homage tower, popularly known as the Macho. It actively participated in the wars with Portugal, and by 1710 it was in a considerable state of disrepair, so it was decided to build a new fort to protect the border with Portugal. In 1887 it became the property of the City Council, which has since used it for various purposes.

Main north facade of the castle

Entrance gate to the indoor of the castle

Space between the indoor of the north wall and the homage tower of the castle

Access to the Governor's House inside the north wall of the castle

Space between the indoor of the west wall and the homage tower of the castle

Basis of the south side of the homage tower on natural stone

Indoor of the west wall of the castle

Well located next to the indoor of the south wall of the castle

Space between the indoor of the south wall and the homage tower of the castle

Staircase leading to the indoor of the first floor of the east wall of the castle

Indoor space on the first floor of the east wall of the castle,

currently an Exhibition Hall

Staircase leading to the patrol path above the north wall of the castle

Access to the south-east tower of the castle

Battlements on the south-east tower

View of the south-east tower terrace from the castle homage tower

The patrol path along the south wall of the castle

Side view of the terrace of the central tower of the south wall

Detail of the access staircase to the terrace of the two towers joined 

in the south-west corner of the castle

Battlements above the towers joined at the south-east corner

Loophole integrated into a terrace battlement of the united towers

The patrol path along the west wall of the castle

Battlements on the west wall

Side view of the terrace of the two towers joined 

at the north-west corner of the castle

View of the terrace of the two towers joined at the north-west corner

from the homage tower of the castle

Battlements on the towers of the north-west corner of the castle

Access to the north-east tower of the castle

Side view of the north-east tower terrace

South-west view of the homage tower of the castle

Machicolation on the south side of the homage tower

Trefoil arched window on the south side of the homage tower

Semicircular tower attached to the east side of the castle's homage tower

East side of the homage tower

Scaraguaita on the north wall of the homage tower

Detail of the access stairs to the cube that protected

the entrance to the homage tower

Door and staircase leading to the first floor of the cube that protected

the entrance to the homage tower

Cantilevered bridge and entrance to the homage tower 

from the cube that protected it

Room indoor the homage tower

Hollow intended for the fireplace in one of the rooms of the homage tower

Staircase between floors of the homage tower

Exhibition of Renaissance clothing "Women Makers of Kings"

inside the homage tower

Space indoor the wall dedicated to reading or conversation (courtship)

Hollow indoor the wall intended for the latrine

Observation post from indoor the homage tower

Terrace of the homage tower

Barbican towers that protected access to the castle on the north side

Central tower of the north wall of the castle

Western canvas of the north wall

Detail of a postern or window in the western canvas of the north wall

North-east tower

North-west view of the castle

Nort tower of the two that are joined at the north-west corner of the castle

Towers united at the north-west corner

Corner embrasures that defended both towers

West tower of the two that are joined at the north-west corner of the castle

Detail of the battlements on the terrace of the west tower

West wall

Square tower south-west of the castle

Sentry boxes at the corners of the south-west square tower

Western canvas of the south wall of the castle

Battlements on the western canvas of the south wall

Central tower of the south wall

Eastern canvas of the south wall

South-east view of the castle

South-east tower

East wall

Detail of the terrace of the castle's homage tower

West wall of the outer enclosure that protected the castle and the population

The patrol path along the west wall of the outer enclosure

Defensive bastion on the east wall of the outer enclosure

(Bastion of the Portuguese)

Location of the castle of Puebla de Sanabria