CASTLES ASPE

El Castillo del Rio is a 12th-century Almoravide fortress located near Aspe in Alicante, Spain, built on a hillside overlooking the confluence of the Tarafa and Vinalopó rivers. Originally known as "Aspe el Viejo," the castle served as the primary settlement for the region for approximately 150 years until the late 13th century, when residents gradually relocated to the town below. The fortification features a large walled enclosure of about 7,000 square meters with twelve towers but no central keep, reflecting Islamic military architecture. Today the remains are partially ruined but protected as a cultural monument, offering views across the surrounding Valencian landscape from its strategic hilltop position.

Castillo de Aljau in Aspe, Alicante, is a medieval fortress designated as a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC) that served as a key defensive structure protecting "Aspe el Nuevo," a 13th-century settlement established after the older Castillo del Río was abandoned. The castle's quadrangular design features corner towers, a central courtyard, and a distinctive angled entryway defended by circular fortifications, representing characteristic Aragonese military architecture. Historical records from Alfonso X El Sabio reference both communities existing simultaneously around 1252. Nearby residential ruins from the 15th century with domestic hearths and storage vessels suggest it functioned as a protected settlement. Following stabilization in 2019 and European FEDER-funded conservation work, the site now welcomes visitors free of charge during weekday hours.