CASTLES PROVINCIA DE ZAMORA

Castillo de Zamora stands northwest of the city cathedral as a formidable Middle Ages fortress built between the 10th and 12th centuries, with construction specifically dating to the 11th century under Ferdinand I of León. Designed as a protective military stronghold rather than a palatial residence, the castle features Pre-Roman foundations and Romanesque architecture with a distinctive diamond-shaped floor plan. Three prominent towers—two with five points and one with seven—rise above walls averaging over two meters in thickness and surrounded by a deep moat. The fortress preserves much of its original defensive perimeter, main courtyard, and keep, offering commanding views across the city and Duero River. Its intact moat and robust structure exemplify the strategic military architecture of early medieval Spain.

Castillo Templario de Alba de Aliste in Zamora province represents a significant medieval fortress built upon ancient Celtic hill fort foundations. Constructed during the reign of Ferdinand II of León in the second half of the 12th century, the castle was granted to the Knights Templar in 1220, who held it until 1310. Following the Templar expulsion from Castile, the fortress passed through noble hands including Don Álvaro de Luna and eventually the Counts of Alba de Aliste in 1489. Now abandoned and designated on the cultural heritage endangered list, the castle remains a testament to medieval military architecture and the region's complex feudal history.