CASTLES SEVILLEJA DE LA JARA

Torre de Gallape rises on a hilltop at 235 meters elevation near Écija, a rectangular watchtower measuring 11.10 by 9.50 meters with walls 2.50 meters thick. Constructed from masonry bonded with hard mortar and incorporating repurposed Roman roof tiles and bricks, the tower featured an elevated northern entrance accessible by a hand ladder that could be withdrawn for security. The fortification was crowned by machicolations that defended the entrance from above. Operating as a beacon and surveillance post, Torre de Gallape monitored the southern routes into Écija in conjunction with the nearby castle of Alhonoz, controlling vulnerable approaches to the region. Currently in a ruinous condition, the tower remains a significant medieval defensive structure.

Castillo de El Real de la Jara, situated in the Seville province municipality of El Real de la Jara, occupies a commanding position at 535 meters elevation overlooking the strategic Vía de la Plata, the region's main medieval communication route. Built in the 14th century, the fortress controlled territory at the confluence of Seville, Huelva, and Badajoz provinces, maintaining visual contact with neighboring castles including Cala and Las Torres for regional defense. The semi-quadrangular masonry enclosure features eight towers, two gateways (one through the keep, one for escape), and a parade ground with water cistern. After losing military function in the mid-17th century when sold to private ownership, the castle suffered dismantling until the municipality acquired it in 1836. Restoration efforts began in 2005, recovering its historical significance.

Castillo de las Torres is a late medieval fortress located near the Badajoz-Seville provincial border, with actual remains situated in Monesterio municipality though closest to El Real de la Jara in Seville province. The fortress was strategically positioned along the Vía de la Plata, a vital medieval trade and transhumance route, to control this important passage and border region. Its trapezoidal floor plan features circular towers at each corner and encompasses approximately 500 square meters of interior weapons courtyard. Based on constructive typology, the castle likely dates to the 15th or 16th century. The fortress formed part of the Baldíos de Calilla, communal lands of the Five Sister Villages, serving as a guardian of territorial interests during the late medieval period when border control remained strategically vital.