El Castillo de Gibralfaro is a 14th-century hilltop fortress in Málaga whose name means “Castle of the Lighthouse”; it was built to protect the Alcazaba, dominates the city from about 132 m above sea level, and remains one of Málaga’s best-preserved medieval fortifications.
Short historical summary
- Built: Major construction under Nasrid rulers Yusuf I and completed by Muhammad V (c. 1344–1354) to house troops and protect the Alcazaba below.
- Role: Served as the principal military bastion of Málaga and was linked to the Alcazaba by a fortified corridor called the Coracha; it withstood sieges during the Christian conquest of Málaga in 1487.
- Heritage status: Recognised as a historic monument and later protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (cultural heritage) in the 20th century.
Architecture and key facts
- Elevation: Sits roughly 132 metres above sea level, giving commanding views over Málaga and the bay.
- Complex size: The full Alcazaba–Coracha–Gibralfaro complex covers about 21,310 m² with an outer perimeter of 1,310 m of walls; the inner enclosure is 12,630 m² with 733 m of wall and multiple towers.
- Defensive features: Two concentric rings of walls, eight towers, a main tower (torre Mayor), a deep rock-cut well (Pozo de Airón), and the zigzagging coracha that made direct assault difficult.
