CASTLES CIUDAD RODRIGO

Ciudad Rodrigo Castle, also known as the Alcázar of Enrique II, stands in Spain's Salamanca province as a striking example of 14th-century military architecture. King Enrique II commissioned this fortress in 1372, positioning it strategically on the city's most difficult terrain. The castle's distinctive tower del homenaje features three levels with pointed arch windows and is surrounded by defensive walls and towers reinforced in 1506. Since 1931, it has operated as a Parador Nacional de Turismo, offering visitors the unique experience of lodging within this medieval stronghold while exploring centuries of regional history.

Puerta de Santiago stands at the southern entrance of Ciudad Rodrigo's medieval walled enclosure in Salamanca province. Believed to date from the medieval period, this restored 12th-century gateway is part of a remarkably preserved 2-kilometer defensive wall featuring seven gates that have survived nearly intact for centuries. The gate was extensively modified in the 18th century and underwent restoration in the early 21st century. Visitors walking through its arched passage encounter a remnant of Castilian-Leonese military heritage, with the fortification's original moats, gun emplacements, and period cannons still visible along the walls, offering authentic glimpses into medieval territorial defense strategies.