From a distance the fort of Aledo on its high rocky pinnacle can be clearly seen and when you arrive there from the Totana road you find that the village still maintains a medieval air. The fort was constructed in order to be able to control the ways of communication that descend from the high plateau into the valley of the River Segura, and had an important part in history as it was known as an impregnable fortress, partly owing to the cleverly constructed waterways which are an integral part of it. The Muslims of Andalucia built the walls encircling the village and thus created a safe haven for the inhabitants.
The Tower of Homage stands out from these ancient walls and it is said that this is where Alfonso X (known as the Wise King), wrote his famous Documents.
Aledo became famous throughout the region in 1086, when the noble Spaniard Garcia Giménez, in command of his troops, took the village and settled his forces in it. He audaciously took over vast territories which extended as far as the villages and fields of Granada, Jaén and Alicante for a period of six years, putting an effective stop to any Moorish invasions.
The village has a lovely location, perched on the eastern end of the Sierra Espuña, with its pine forests climbing up the mountainsides.
This area is ideal for those of you who enjoy walking and wildlife, and high in the Sierra there are clear streams that are icy cold well into early summer.
From a distance the fort of Aledo on its high rocky pinnacle can be clearly seen and when you arrive there from the Totana road you find that the village still maintains a medieval air. The fort was constructed in order to be able to control the ways of communication that descend from the high plateau into the valley of the River Segura, and had an important part in history as it was known as an impregnable fortress, partly owing to the cleverly constructed waterways which are an integral part of it.
The Muslims of Andalucia built the walls encircling the village and thus created a safe haven for the inhabitants. The Tower of Homage stands out
from these ancient walls and it is said that this is where Alfonso X (known as
the Wise King), wrote his famous Documents.
Aledo became famous throughout the region in 1086, when the noble Spaniard Garcia Giménez, in command of his troops, took the village and settled his forces in it. He audaciously took over vast territories which extended as far as the villages and fields of Granada, Jaén and Alicante for a period of six years, putting an effective stop to any Moorish invasions.
The village has a lovely location, perched on the eastern end of the Sierra Espuña, with its pine forests climbing up the mountainsides. This area is ideal for those of you who enjoy walking and wildlife, and high in the Sierra there are clear streams that are icy cold well into early summer.
On the lower slopes and in the valley there are many vineyards which produce a good quality table grape.
Almonds are also cultivated here and carnations are grown in greenhouses.
Another activity is the production of clay vessels in the “Ollerías”, the workshops which are an inheritance of the Moorish artisans and the same style of craftsmanship is used to create the products today.