Country
Spain
City / Region
Cartaya / Huelva / Andaluzia
Construction Date
Built in the 15th century, between 1417 and 1428, by Don Pedro de Zúñiga, with royal license from Juan II de Castilla. It was later fortified in the 16th century with the addition of a barbican. The construction in the early 15th century by a noble house with royal license to defend a strategic river point and consolidate a lordship illustrates the dynamics of late-medieval fortification on the Luso-Andalusian border, combining seigneurial interests and defense of the kingdom.
Conservation status
Classified as Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) with the category of Monument (code RI-51-0007835) since 1985. It is in good condition, having been restored by the Junta de Andalucía in the early 90s. Its functional evolution over time – from fortress and stately residence to refuge, cemetery, warehouse, bullring, and finally, a restored monument for cultural use – demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of this type of structure, but also the periods of decline and pragmatic reuse that many castles underwent before their modern heritage valorization. It is currently used for the celebration of festivals, shows, and other cultural events.
Latitude and Longitude
37°16'59"N 7°09'23"W
Main characteristics
It sits on a clay hillock in the center/west of the urban area. Rectangular plan (approx. 35x27m) with seven square towers at the corners and in the middle of the curtain walls, with the Torre del Homenaje (Keep, in the western corner) and the Torre de la Campana (Bell Tower) standing out. The walls reach 8 meters in height and 1.70 meters in thickness, with a total perimeter of 130 meters. Built mostly of rammed earth on a masonry foundation, with ashlars at the corners and in the original gate. It has a parade ground and an access gate in Mudéjar style. Originally, it had a second low outer wall (barbican or faussebraye) and a moat, now disappeared. Its function was to defend the Piedras River pass, monitor the limits of neighboring lordships (Lepe and Gibraleón), and serve as a refuge against pirate attacks (Barbary, Norman) and Portuguese incursions.
Source(s)
AYUNTAMIENTO DE CARTAYA. Castillo de los Zúñiga. [Online]. Disponível em: https://www.cartaya.es/es/turismo/lugares/castillo-de-los-zuniga. Acesso em: 30 de Abril de 2025.
CASTILLOSNET. Castillo de los Zúñiga. [Online]. Disponível em: https://www.castillosnet.org/fortificacion.php?r=H-CAS-005&n=Castillo+de+los+Z%C3%BA%C3%B1iga. Acesso em: 30 de Abril de 2025.
ESPANHA. Ministerio de Cultura. Consulta a la base de datos de bienes inmuebles. [Online]. Disponível em: https://www.cultura.gob.es/cultura/patrimonio/bienes-culturales-protegidos/consulta-de-bienes-inmuebles.html. Acesso em: 30 de Abril de 2025.
JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA. Consejería de Cultura y Patrimonio Histórico. Catálogo General del Patrimonio Histórico Andaluz. [Online]. Disponível em: https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/organismos/culturaydeporte/areas/cultura/bienes-culturales/catalogo-pha/consulta.html. Acesso em: 30 de Abril de 2025.