Castell d'Alaró
4
The hydraulic system
Alaró Castle was famous for being impregnable, but beyond the imposing cliffs, walls and towers, and the small garrison of between fifteen and twenty men, there was another key element that guaranteed survival during a siege: water.
Here on this plateau, two distinct systems for collecting and storing water have been preserved.
First, directly in front of you, you can see a rectangular structure: a large reservoir or cistern. It is known to have two major construction phases. The earliest, probably Andalusi, dates from between the tenth and thirteenth centuries and was built using rammed concrete, still visible in the lower interior sections. The second phase is Christian, from after 1231, built in stone and visible in the upper parts of the walls. In some areas, traces of the reddish waterproof coating used to seal the interior can still be seen.
This reservoir was filled with rainwater collected from the roofs of nearby buildings, now disappeared. It seems to have been uncovered from at least the fifteenth century onwards, if indeed it ever had a roof at all.
Beyond the guesthouse and the hermitage lies the fortress’s main hydraulic system: the cisterns. This area is known as La Mola, a small rise within the mountain where water accumulates, creating a natural spring. The presence of such a spring at a summit like this is exceptional.
In the past, this spring supplied a circular cistern, three large covered reservoirs and an open water tank, partially excavated in 2017, which appears to predate the Islamic period.
It is still unknown when each cistern and each part of the system was constructed, but evidence suggests they belong to different historical phases, as each reservoir displays distinct construction characteristics.
Together, these two systems stored enough water to sustain life within the Castle for long periods and to support a relatively large number of people.
Here on this plateau, two distinct systems for collecting and storing water have been preserved.
First, directly in front of you, you can see a rectangular structure: a large reservoir or cistern. It is known to have two major construction phases. The earliest, probably Andalusi, dates from between the tenth and thirteenth centuries and was built using rammed concrete, still visible in the lower interior sections. The second phase is Christian, from after 1231, built in stone and visible in the upper parts of the walls. In some areas, traces of the reddish waterproof coating used to seal the interior can still be seen.
This reservoir was filled with rainwater collected from the roofs of nearby buildings, now disappeared. It seems to have been uncovered from at least the fifteenth century onwards, if indeed it ever had a roof at all.
Beyond the guesthouse and the hermitage lies the fortress’s main hydraulic system: the cisterns. This area is known as La Mola, a small rise within the mountain where water accumulates, creating a natural spring. The presence of such a spring at a summit like this is exceptional.
In the past, this spring supplied a circular cistern, three large covered reservoirs and an open water tank, partially excavated in 2017, which appears to predate the Islamic period.
It is still unknown when each cistern and each part of the system was constructed, but evidence suggests they belong to different historical phases, as each reservoir displays distinct construction characteristics.
Together, these two systems stored enough water to sustain life within the Castle for long periods and to support a relatively large number of people.
The Keep
3
The eastern defenses