Castillo de Gómez Arias rises dramatically above the Genil River in Benamejí, commanding a strategic position at 390 meters altitude. Originally constructed during the reign of emir Abd-Allah (888-912) to control the rebellious population, the fortress was reinforced by the Caliphate of Córdoba and remained a critical frontier stronghold between Christian and Muslim kingdoms for centuries. Following Ferdinand III's conquest in 1240, the castle passed to the Order of Santiago. The fortress retains its rectangular floor plan with defensive towers and interior cisterns, offering tangible evidence of medieval military engineering.
