Civil architecture of Almonaster la Real (EN)

Description Casa Palacio Miguel Tenorio de Castilla

The medieval bridge of Almonaster la Real, with origins in Roman engineering, is part of a branch of the ancient Via Julia, connecting Riotinto with Merida and other routes to Italica. At its feet stands the Old Tannery, a medieval tannery, later converted into an oil mill. Its elegant neoclassical façade, dated 1806, gives access to a rectangular building with two-story warehouses and brick arches. Together, bridge and tannery offer a journey through centuries of history and uses of the local heritage.

The Ermita de la Trinidad, from the end of the 18th century, is a notable example of rural baroque. With an irregular floor plan adapted to the terrain, it has a single nave that includes the sacristy, covered with a groin vault, and a trapezoidal presbytery with a barrel vault and lunettes. The light enters through two tetralobulated oculi, highlighting the simplicity of the interior, decorated with holy water basins and panelled doors. The whitewashing and the purity of lines give the whole an architectural sobriety uncommon in the traditional baroque.

The Plaza de Toros de Almonaster la Real, built in 1821 on the old parade ground of the fortress, stands within the walled enclosure, next to the mosque. With 32 meters of interior diameter and capacity for 1,200 people, it was built reusing masonry of the wall and previous buildings. Reformed in 1891, its first bullfight was given by Fernando "El Gallo". Today, integrated into the historical complex, it hosts not only bullfights, but also weddings, concerts and events of the Islamic Culture Days, making it a unique cultural space.

Located on the outskirts of the village, next to the emblematic Cruz de la Fuente, the Fuente del Concejo is composed of a basin, watering trough and open-air sinks. On its main spout stands a white marble shield with the royal arms and an inscription that reads: "In the year 1701, the Cabildo of this town did this work at the expense of its neighbors". This complex, a symbol of the communal use of water, was restored at the end of the 19th century and still retains its heritage value as a meeting place and living memory of the collective effort.

The Church of San Martín, located in the Plaza de San Cristóbal, was built in response to the need for a larger temple than the old Ermita de la Concepción. Its location, away from the castle, marked the beginning of the urban expansion of the town. Of great proportions, it stands out for its pointed barrel vault and its unique Puerta del Perdón, the only relevant example of Manueline art in Andalusia. Begun in the 14th century in Mudejar style, its façade was added around 1530. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1992.