Alcazaba, Take #1 – Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

The Alcazaba is a palatial fortification in Málaga, Spain. It was built by the Hammudid Moorish dynasty in the early 11th century. The Alcazaba is built on a hill in the centre of the city, overlooking the port, and comprises two walled enclosures. Adjacent to the entrance of the Alcazaba are remnants of a Roman theatre dating to the 1st century BCE, which are undergoing restoration. Some of the Roman-era materials were reused in the Moorish construction of the Alcazaba. It was formerly connected to the city ramparts which formed a third defensive wall but only two inner walls remain. The first, built around the topography of the hill, completely encloses the second inner area and is dotted with defensive towers. Ferdinand and Isabella captured Málaga from the Moors after the Siege of Málaga (1487), one of the longest sieges in the Reconquista.