Castle of Xativa

About

First a Roman fortress built to keep watch over their Via Augustus road, every empire since has staked a claim on the hill, including the Moors, French, Bourbons, Hapsburgs and Aragonese. Even today, the castle has preserved elements from its long history, split among the two distinct structures. A walk through the Castillo Mayor rewards visitors with a look at ancient gates, an Arabic fountain, a Catholic chapel, and old bronze cannons, with stunning views of the countryside along the way. Inside the palatial castle, are the private rooms of its royal masters, and the prison used to hold illustrious convicts like the Duque de Calabria, the King of Mallorca, and the brother of Saint Francis Borgia. The Castillo Menor lacks the sights of its larger counterpart, but was built by the original Iberian inhabitants, so walking along the ancient walls a more cerebral experience.