Castillo de Barcience

Castillo de Barcience rises on a prominent hill overlooking the village of Barcience in Toledo province, with fortifications documented from the 11th and 12th centuries. Originally belonging to the Order of Santiago in the 13th century, the castle was eventually given to Don Alfonso Tenorio and subsequently passed to the Count of Cifuentes. The Silva family constructed the present castle structure in the 15th century, featuring a rectangular floor plan reinforced at corners by towers and displaying the Silva family's rampant lion heraldic emblem in stone carving. Later owned by ducal houses including Infantado, Osuna, and Pastrana, the castle has primarily functioned as a manor house throughout its history rather than serving any significant military role.