Castell d'Alaró
2
The barbican
You are now inside the first enclosure of Alaró Castle, protected by the outer defensive wall, or barbican, also referred to in medieval documents as the first gate or outer wall. This structure was built at the beginning of the fourteenth century, during the reigns of James II or Sancho I of Mallorca, and was later remodelled by King Peter IV of Aragon in 1345.
This is a particularly interesting area, as it is one of the few places in the Castle where the different construction phases throughout its history can still be clearly seen.
If you look upwards, you will see two stretches of wall extending on either side of the keep: a longer one to the right and a shorter one to the left. If you look carefully, you will notice that the stones differ in shape, size and arrangement. These differences show that the various sections were not all built at the same time. Even today, it is difficult to link each phase precisely to a specific historical period.
The available evidence suggests that the oldest levels belonged to a very simple fortification built during Late Antiquity, probably in the Byzantine period, between the sixth and seventh centuries. Later, during the Islamic period of Mallorca, between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, important modifications were carried out, including the construction of the large water cistern that you will see later on.
Finally, after the conquest of the island by James I, most of the towers, walls and structures still preserved today were built during the Late Middle Ages. The defensive system around the entrance area was also greatly expanded, with repairs and alterations continuing until the end of the fifteenth century.
This is a particularly interesting area, as it is one of the few places in the Castle where the different construction phases throughout its history can still be clearly seen.
If you look upwards, you will see two stretches of wall extending on either side of the keep: a longer one to the right and a shorter one to the left. If you look carefully, you will notice that the stones differ in shape, size and arrangement. These differences show that the various sections were not all built at the same time. Even today, it is difficult to link each phase precisely to a specific historical period.
The available evidence suggests that the oldest levels belonged to a very simple fortification built during Late Antiquity, probably in the Byzantine period, between the sixth and seventh centuries. Later, during the Islamic period of Mallorca, between the tenth and thirteenth centuries, important modifications were carried out, including the construction of the large water cistern that you will see later on.
Finally, after the conquest of the island by James I, most of the towers, walls and structures still preserved today were built during the Late Middle Ages. The defensive system around the entrance area was also greatly expanded, with repairs and alterations continuing until the end of the fifteenth century.
The physical environment
1
The Keep