Castillo Palacio de Altamira

The Castillo Palacio de Altamira is a medieval fortress located in Monteagudo de las Vicarías, province of Soria, in Castilla y León. It is a castle-palace integrated into the fortified village, adapted to one end of the hill where the town sits, in a clearly defensive and strategic position. Its main construction is attributed to Juan Hurtado de Mendoza in the first half of the 15th century, over another previous castle. The sources place it between the 15th and 16th centuries and describe it as a Gothic-Renaissance style work, with later elements from the 16th century, such as the straight lintel windows. It has a pentagonal floor plan, an octagonal keep and a restored Renaissance interior courtyard. Also noteworthy are its polygonal walls, angled towers, two access doors and noble coats of arms linked to the Mendoza family, along with the arcaded courtyard and the preserved or restored interior galleries. It played an important role in the medieval frontier between Castile and Aragon and in the late medieval noble struggles. It is currently listed as a protected monument since 1949 and is one of the main heritage landmarks of Monteagudo de las Vicarías.