MOTA FORTRESS

After many years of restoration, you can visit this monumental fortress again, perched at an altitude of 1,033 m on the hill of the same name and which was decisive in the guard and defence of the kingdoms of Castile. The castle of La Mota was built by order of the second lord of the kingdom of Granada, Aben-abus Ben-Zeiri, around the year 1000. In the ancient city surrounded by walls, one of the longest in Andalusia, you can visit the Arab Alcazaba with its courtyard and three towers, including the Homenaje tower, which offers a splendid panorama, as well as the bell and sail towers, but also the abbey churches. On the esplanade, stands the church of Santa María la Mayor (16th-17th centuries) with a remarkable Renaissance façade and a chapel attributed to Jacopo Florentino.

Allow at least two hours for this visit. But it is also pleasant to stay longer to admire the different points of view offered and listen to the presentation videos that punctuate the visit. The site is also an interpretation centre for life on the border. Only the video accompanying the abbey church takes place at a specific time indicated on your entrance ticket. Since 2013, an old underground gallery from the carabalieri caminos to the military fortress of the Alcazaba can be visited, but only by guided tour, after prior reservation and during the week. Finally, in summer, this place is used as a setting for a medieval festival.