Castell de Xàtiva

Spain, Spain

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Castell de Xàtiva is a striking twin fortress crowning a hill above the town of Xàtiva in Valencia province, Spain, with origins tracing back to Iberian and Roman times but primarily featuring Islamic walls and Gothic expansions.

Divided into the Castell Menor, built on ancient remains with Roman masonry bases and 10th-century Islamic gates later Gothic-restored, and the larger Castell Major, a medieval stronghold conquered by Jaume I in 1244 after a prolonged siege, it served as a royal prison and defensive linchpin overlooking the plain. 

Declared a Cultural Heritage Site, the castle's ramparts, towers like the Tower of Faith rebuilt after 16th-18th century collapses, and panoramic plaza de armas offer vivid glimpses into layered conquests from Moorish rule through the Spanish Succession War.