La Martina Tower

At the top of the hill of the Castle, crowning the town, we find La Martina, whose resistance to the passage of time has consecrated it as the most emblematic image of Ayllón. This pentagonal albarrana tower was built during the eighth century during the Arab occupation of the peninsula, along with the rest of the wall and other similar towers that made up the fortification on the hill. Of the whole complex, only this watchtower and a few meters away part of the wall known as "Los Paredones" remain as remains. In reference to its initial function as a defensive tower we can appreciate a pair of symmetrical hollows in one of the faces of the vault of passage, relieving a system of wood to close the access. We can also see at the top of the same vault, above the passageway, two perforations that would have served as defense buheras (vertical defenses that allowed projectiles to be launched from a higher plane). After the Christian reconquest, the church of San Martín was built on the hill sometime between 1353 and 1587, using the old Arab tower as a bell tower and adding a belfry. This is the origin of the peculiar name 'La Martina', which we know has been in use since at least the 18th century, thanks to the writings of the parish priest Manuel Carrascal about the tower. In 1795 the parish of San Martin was suppressed, abandoned and gradually destroyed by the passage of time. La Martina remained as a bell tower and for decades, from April to September, it marked the dawn and noon for the farmers who worked in the fields.