Vigilance system and control of the Nazarí Kingdom in

Manuel Argüelles Márquez

Translation by D. Enrique Quesada Capilla 1Vigilance system and control of the Nazarí Kingdom in Granada

Manuel Argüelles Márquez

INTRODUCTION

Years ago we began the study of the towers of the Granada Kingdom, mainly at its border near Alcalá la Real (Argüelles, 1987; Salvatierra et al., 1989). The present paper is a compilation of the full prospect work that it has been made during too many years. In addition to the border zones, where the number of findings has slightly increased, too many towers placed at la Vega1 have been included in this work.

As it is clearly known, these towers can be divided in general in two groups, the atalayas (watchtowers) and the towers of alquería (hamlet). The function of the former was the vigilance and control of the kingdom by protecting a big fortress or town. The latter were connected to one or more towns, being a shelter area for protecting rural population, as it has been proposed for the rural “hussun” from levante (Guichard, 1986) or la Alpujarra (Cressier, 1984; 1992).

Nevertheless, if it is not considered this division, the spatial distribution of these towers and their position on the hills, seem to draw various lines within the kingdom, from the north to the south, following the course of some rivers or making good use of some natural pathways. Moreover, in addition to the lines of the border, these towers seem to draw transversal lines, from east to west, like concentric belts surrounding the capital of the kingdom, whose articulation depend on the population density. On the whole, they formed a system similar to a “telegraphic” line, which allowed communication of latest news from one to another, even until the Alhambra of

1 1 I would like to thank for their collaboration to Mr. Juan Carlos Ureña Coca, Mr. Alfonso Mazuecos Moraga, Mr. José Pérez Quesada, Mr. Fernado Alba and Mr. Jorge Soria Navarrete 2 One day, by having a group of collaborators which were distributed all around the hills where rests of the towers are, it was possible to look at from the tower of la Vela of the Alhambra, on the horizon, the flashes of the mirrors. It indicates the importance of this line from Loja for keeping informed the town of Granada. Granada2. Although the towers were built at different dates, it is necessary to point out their perfect distribution, as a result of both, a geographic study and a perfect knowledge of the territory.

In spite of the internal wars and the existing differences within the kingdom, or perhaps, as a result of them, this system could be the quickest one in order to keep all the territory informed, from the border castles to the central lands of the .

BORDER TOWERS (-Moclín-Montefrio)

The line of fortresses built by the nazaríes opposite Alcalá La Real, and the access from the lands of Jaén to this area, consisted of the ones of Colomera, Moclín, Illora and Montefrio. The former has a list to east, in a higher mountainous area of difficult access. Actually, the main nucleus of this area consisted of the fortresses of Moclín and Montefrio, which were the alcazabas (fortresses) of the two main border localities. Each one was protected by a group of towers, being other group of towers between these two localities as an advanced barrier to the fortress of Illora, which was between Moclín and Montefrio, but behind them, closing the border.

COLOMERA AREA

1.-“La Atalaya” (Colomera) (37º 23’ 58’’/ 3º 42’ 22’’)

Situated 1032 m. above the sea level, near to “El Chopo” farmhouse, 2 km. far from the fortress of Colomera to the north. This tower is made of masonry, with circular plane, it is stretch and preserves only 5 m. high, being very damaged at its northern part. It guarded the lands of Benalúa de las Villas to the north, and the lands between Colomera and Moclín to the west. MOCLÍN AREA

2.- “La Porqueriza” tower (Moclín) (37º 22’ 4’’/ 3º 47’ 16’’)

It is situated 900 m. above the sea level, at a strategic place, 2 km. far from Tózar and 3 km. far from Moclín. It is stretch until the half-high, having a 6 m. high door, reformed by hewn stone. It has circular plane, and direct view of both, the tower of “Mingoandrés” and Moclín, controlling the oriental valleys close to Alcalá la Real. It has been found Hispano-Arabic ceramics, coins and points of arrows, being the whole probably an alquería (hamlet).

3.- “Mingoandrés” tower (Moclín) (37º 21’ 20’’/ 3º 48’ 48’’)

Its shape can be seen from a great distance on a hill which has the same name, in front of the post that indicate the km. 410 of road from Granada to Alcalá la Real. It is placed 990 m. above the sea level. From this tower it could be seen all the closer towers, controlling a wide area to the north and to the east, opposite to Alcalá la Real (Fig. 3).

4.- “La solana” tower (Moclín) (37º 20’ 53’’/ 3º 48’ 9’’)

It is situated at a zone, which guarded the cliffs closer to the fortress of Moclín. It is 2 km. far from the fortress of Moclin and 300 m. far from the road Moclín-Puerto Lope. It preserves 6.8 m high, with a circular plane and a room upstairs.

5.- Top of “la Torrecilla” (Moclín) (37º 19’ 36’’/ 3º 49’ 05’’)

It is placed on a smooth hill at the Top of “la Torrecilla”, 1196 m. above the see level at the Sierra of Moclín, very close to the top of this Sierra, “el Morrón de Catena”. It is fully destroyed, surrounded of ceramics, bricks and other less important structures. This area was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War by constructing trenches. It has a direct view of Moclín and other towers of the area. 6. “La gallina tower” (Íllora) (37º 19’ 23’’/ 3º 50’ 2’’)

It is placed at the Top of “la Torrecilla”, at the west slope of the Sierra of Moclin, few meters far from the road to Alcalá la Real (km. 413) and 2.5 km. far from the village of Puerto Lope. It is a stretch construction with a circular plane. On its south- eastern part, a small door gives entrance to something like a vaulted basement. It was destroyed by a storm in 1970. Great amount of ceramics and rest of builds surround this tower. Although this type of tower is similar to the type of atalayas (watchtowers), it has some peculiarities that make it similar to the alquería (hamlet) types.

7. “La Mesa” or “la Cuesta” tower (Íllora) (37º 18’ 35’’/ 3º 50’ 51’’)

It is placed 4 km. far from Íllora, 926 m. above the sea level, in front of the hill of la Laguna, close to the Sierra of Madrid, and 300 m. far from the farmhouse of “la Cuesta”. It has circular plane and is a stretch construction, preserving 6.9 m high. It is slightly damaged at the base at the eastern part. It has direct view of the tower of “la Gallina” and the “Tajo del Sol”, and a further view of the tower of “Mingoandrés” (Fig. 4).

INTERMEDIATE AREA

8.- “El Morrón” tower (Íllora) (37º 18’ 22’’/ 3º 55’ 34’’)

It is placed 1604 m. above the sea level, being the top of the Sierra Parapanda. Nowadays, there are no rests of it because it was destroyed in 1960 to build a TV relay station. It could be a key point of the vigilance system due to its direct view of both, a great number of towers (Tocón, “la Encantada”, the towers of Montefrío, “la Mesa”, etc.), and the three fortresses of the system. As our knowledge, it was cylindrical, having a room. At the moment of being destroyed, it preserves 3m high.

9.- “Jorbas” tower (Íllora) (37º 20’ 00’’/ 3º 54’ 35’’) Nowadays it is a pile of stones with square plane and preserves 1.7m high. It is very close to the farmhouses of “Arbitrios” and “Jorbas”, which give the name to the tower. It is 300m far from the road from Íllora to Montefrío, at the northern part of the Sierra Parapanda. It is surrounded by a great amount of ceramics, and even, it has been located at this place, a necropolis partially destroyed by the agricultural work. It is probably an alquería (hamlet) with its tower; at the moment it is not possible to elucidate if it was abandoned after the fall of Alcalá la Real, or if it continued being inhabited.

MONTEFRÍO AREA

10.- “La torrecilla” (at the border between Montefrío and Íllora)

It is situated at the top of “la Torrecilla”, in the western part of the Sierra Parapanda, 4 km. far from Tocón, and 2 Km. far from the tower of “el Morrón”. The proximity of this tower to the tower of “el Morrón” could be due to the winter overcast of the latter. From this tower, there is a view of the towers of Tocón, the hill of “la Torre” o “El Amarguillo” (V. Mesías), “La Encantada” and the two towers of Montefrío: “Los Guzmanes” and “Torre Quebrada”. This tower formed a line between the towers closer to Montefrío and the towers of Tocón and Illora, and therefore, it allowed connection of signals and vigilance of dark points, cliffs and gorges of the stream of “los Molinos”, at the western part of Sierra Parapanda. The remains of this tower were knocked down by the farmers; thus nowadays it only rests its name, which it is conserved both, in a closer farmhouse and in the hill of “la Torrecilla”. There are some Roman remains in the close farmhouse of “Mairena”, and also in a visigotic cementery close to the farmhouse of “Moyano”.

11.- “Quebrada” tower (Montefrío) (37º 21’ 42’’/ 3º 57’ 55’’)

It is situated 1222 m. above the see level, 4 km. to the north of the fortress of Montefrío. Nowadays it only preserves 3m high, being of circular plane. It is supposed that this tower could be one of the biggest due to both, the dimension of the hill and the great number of materials that surround it. It is thought that its construction could be made of masonry. This tower guarded the lands limiting with Alcalá la Real, “Alto de Peñuela”, “Venta de los Agramaderos” y Sierra Agreda. It had a direct view with the fortress of Montefrío and with other towers of the system: “Los Molinos”, “Los Anillos” to the south, and “La Torrecilla”, to the west.

12.- “El Cortijuelo” tower (Montefrío) (37º 20’ 4’’/ 3º 59’ 4’’)

It is placed 1500 m. above the see level, at the hill of “el Cotijuelo”. It is a stretch construction, of circular plane, preserving a high of 6 m. It has a good view of la Sierra de la Cazuela and of the closer slopes to Alcalá la Real. At its northern part, it can be seen the towers of “los Anillos” and “el Morrón” (Fig.5).

13.- “Los Anillos” tower (Montefrío) (37º 19’ 0’’/ 3º 58’ 46’’)

It is built at the hill of “los Molinos”, 2 km far from Montefrío. It has circular plane, built by means of big stones. It preserves 3m high. It guarded the northern part of the Sierra Parapanda. It had a view not only of the tower of “el Cortijuelo”, but also of the towers of “el Morrón” and “los Guzmanes”.

14.-“Los Guzmanes” tower (37º 18’ 32’’/ 3º 58’ 59’’)

It is placed 4 km. far from Montefrío, 1500 m. above the see level, close to the road Montefrío-Tocón. It is, as the previous, a stretch construction of circular plane, preserving 5.8 m high and it is a bit damaged at its base. It is the most isolated tower of the area, guarding some sectors of the Sierra Parapanda, specially the Stream of “los Molinos” and the Hill of “el Cerrajón”. It is possible the existence of an additional disappeared tower between this one and the tower of Tocón. It would be placed at a close hill called “la Torrecilla”. In fact, this point completes the visual line between Montefrío and Tocón, mainly some dead angles remaining from the rest of the towers.

15.- “El Hachuelo” tower (Montefrío) (37º 18’ 58’’/ 4º 01’ 16’’)

It is situated 1500 m. above the see level, at the hill having the same name; it preserves 1.10 m. high. It is a stretch construction, with circular plane, built of masonry. It can be clearly observed its circular plane. It emplacement is privileged so that it is the main tower of the vigilance and control system, 3 km. far from the fortress of Montefrío. It had direct view with the fortress of Montefrío, and the surrounding towers of “el Morrón” and “la Encantada”, having a direct view of la and other dark points in the direction to .

16.- El Sol tower (Montefrío) (37º 19’ 28’’/ 4º 04’ 40’’)

It is placed 4 km. far from the fortress of Montefrío, in direction to Algarinejo, 907 m. above the see level, at the place called Cortijo de “la Torre del Sol”. It preserves 1.4 m high. It has circular plane, made of masonry. It guarded the lands in the direction to Algarinejo and other ones of la Sierra de Chanzas. It had a direct view of the “Quebrada” tower fortress.

AREA OF ÍLLORA

17.- El Charcón tower (Illora) (37º 17’ 6’’/ 3º 53’ 6’’)

It is placed 100 m. far from the stream with the same name, and 200 m. from the town of Íllora. It is placed at a slight slope close to the bridge of “el Charcon” and the road Íllora-Alomartes. It has square plane, being very damaged and preserving 1.9 m. high, although two sides are 4.9 m. high. It seems that it had a room. It guards the pass through the bridge of “el Charcón”, and the pass through some cliffs near to the fortress of Íllora. It is surrounded of remains of constructions and ceramics. The group could be an alquería (hamlet) with its tower, close to Íllora, even as a quarter of this village.

18.- “El Sol” steep cliff (Íllora) (37º 189’ 17’’/ 3º 52’ 33’’)

It is placed at the Sierra Madrid, 1256 m. above the see level, 4 km. far from Íllora. This height above the see level forms a plain at the top of the cliff. From this height, there was a direct view of “el Morrón”, “Mesa” and “Jorbas” towers. It is an emplacement of the nazarí age, and even older. It has a 150 m long wall, built by means of stones without mortar, guarding the southern part of the plain. At the full emplacement, it has been found to many remains of constructions and ceramics, mainly in some caves placed at the northern part. It is very close to the Madrid fountain, which supplies water to the village of Íllora since too many years ago.

19. El fuerte (Íllora) (37º 16’ 4’’/ 3º 53’ 4’’)

It is placed 907 m. above the see level, at the ownership of Ciudad Rodrigo duke, opposite to Sierra Parapanda, in the line of the Morrón hill, 2 km. far from Íllora and Alomartes. It seems a small village, which was fortified by means of a moat and a small wall. This point connects the fortress of Íllora and the Morrón tower. It guarded the area of Molino del Rey and the pass to la Vega de Granada. It has been found tips of iron arrows. The type of this emplacement has not yet been clearly established.

20.- Pedrizaguilla tower (Íllora) (37º 23’ 58’’/ 3º 42’ 22’’)

It is placed at the “Pedrizaguilla” hill, 921 m. above the see level, close to the farmhouse of “los Cortijuelos”. It was the best situated tower for guarding the Vega of Granada, from Obeilar to Sierra Elvira. It had direct view with the fortress of Íllora, and the following towers: to the north, “La Mesa” tower, “La Gallina” tower, and “el Morrón” tower, and to the west, “El Fuerte”. Its remains were took down in the sixties for exploiting a quarry. It is mentioned in the chronicles of the capture of the Íllora castle.

TOCÓN-GENIL RIVER LINE

Tocón is the confluence point of the groups of towers surrounding Íllora and Montefrío respectively. From it, it can be clearly observed an interior line of towers, which connect with the Genil River. The most of them are towers of alquería (hamlet), being placed close to the localities, or even into them, whose function was the protection of the population living on them.

21.- “Clementino” tower (Tocón) (37º 14’ 21’’/ 3º 57’ 51’’) It is placed at Tocón. It is included as a Monument of the Military Architecture in the Historic-Artistic Patrimony, dated at the XIV century. It is situated at the south- east of the Sierra Parapanda, 3 km. far from “la Encantada” tower, and 10 km. far from the fortress of Íllora. It had direct view of the towers of “el Morrón” and “la Encantada”. It has square plane, having three vaulted floors; the corners are strengthened by means of ashlars. It has not stairs due to the reformations made by the owners, being the first floor incorporated into a house. The close area to this tower is called as “barrio moro”, and from it, too many ceramics and coins have been found. Moreover, a necropolis has been found. It is clearly an alquería (hamlet) tower.

22.- “La Encantada” tower (Brácana-Íllora) (37º 13’ 25’’/ 3º 57’ 51’’)

It is placed 2 km. far from Brácana and 3 km. far from Tocón. It is 639 m. above the see level, controlling a wide stripe in direction to Loja and Alomartes, having direct view of the Tocón and Morrón towers. It has octagonal plane, 2 m. side and a maximum wide of 4.10 m. It has a room system similar to the one of the Tocón tower, being also vaulted. It preserves nowadays 3.20 m. high. It seems that it is also an alquería (hamlet) tower.

23.- “Vacas” hill (Illora) (37º 11’ 58’’/ 3º 56’ 27’’)

At the limit of the lands of Íllora, few meters from the lands of , in the other side of the Genil River, 639 m. above the see level, it is placed a hat shape hill called “Cerro Vacas”. It has a surface of 0.2 ha, where the remains of a construction, probably a square tower, stones, mortar and ceramics can be seen. There are other less important remains few meters far from the land of Íllora, at the opposite hill. It is a privilegious place for guarding the Vega in direction to Loja and Granada. One day, “la Encantada” and “el Morrón” towers could be seen from it.

ZAGRA-LOJA LINE

At the western part of the group of the fortress and the towers of Montefrio, it seems to be a zone free of vigilance. Nevertheless, this zone is of difficult accessing, and therefore, it is not considered as a “door” to la Vega de Granada. The following hard point of the border was constituted both, by the advanced fortress of ZAGRA, and the very important one of LOJA, deeply situated (Malpica, 1987). This line is considered as symmetric to the one from Montefrio to the River Genil, and it seems that it formed a line of vigilance of the north-occidental area of la Vega de Granada.

24.- “Pesquera” tower (Zagra) (37º 17’ 15’’/ 4º 11’ 24’’)

It is a small fortification placed few meters from the river Pesquera, 200 m. far from the road Zagra - Fuentes de Cesna, and 4 km. far from the fortress of Zagra, to the north-east. This place forms a steep cliff above the river, and it remains a 9 m. high tower, of circular plane, and other rests, including part of a room. It is built of masonry. The visible rests occupy an extension of 50m x 10m. Many ceramics remain at the southern slope. This tower was perfectly situated for guarding the full basin of the river, from Algarinejo to the south, and for protecting the orchards placed at both basins of the river, and even an old dam, remaining from the irrigation system of the orchards, probably from the Arabic age.

25.- “Martilla” Tower (Zagra) (37º 14’ 00’’/ 4º 10’ 40’’)

It is placed at Santa Barbara, 799 above the sea level, 3 km. far from Zagra and 20 km. from Loja. It takes its name from the existing farmhouse and the close lands. It preserves 2.5 m. high, and it is very damaged. It has circular plane and on it, it is possible to distinguish rests of a Visigotic village and a necropolis, occupying most of the hill where the tower is situated. This tower guarded the lands and the valley between Loja and Zagra, and it has a direct view of these two fortresses, and even of a wire area in direction to Iznájar (Lam. 9).

26. “Agicampe” tower (Loja) (37º 12’ 58’’/ 4º 05’ 55’’)

This tower is placed close to the rise of “el Pino”, 3.5 km. far from the road Loja-Zagra, 5.5 km. far from Zagra, and 4 km. far from Huétor Tajar, at the top of “Arroyo Guantero”, 700 m. above the sea level. It has oval plane, made of masonry, and it preserves 8.5 m. high. It has a door orientated to the south (la Vega), built by means of hewn stone; the door is walled because the owners has built stables surrounding it. It has two floors, the downer being until now an animal shelter. Nowadays, all the floors are down. In the eastern and southern part of the tower, it has been found to many rests of ceramics and constructions, the full emplacement could had 1 ha. This tower is built close to a fountain which few years ago irrigated more than 100 ha. Nowadays, this fountain supplies water to the town of Huetor Tajar.

27.- La torrecilla tower (Loja) (37º 08’ 03’’/ 4º 11’ 56’’)

It is placed 872 m. above the see level, 1.5 km. far from the farmhouse of “la Toba”; 6 km. far from Loja and 2 km. far from la “Venta del Gallo”, at the old road Granada-Málaga. Its western wall preserves 2 m. high, and 1.5 m. the northern one. It has circular plane; made of masonry. It had probably one room. The full western strip between Archidona e Iznájar, is under the control of this vigilance point. It has a direct view of the towers of “Silla del Moro” and “Cortijo del aire”.

28.- Tower of “el Cortijo del Aire” (Loja) (37º 11’ 17’’/ 4º 11’ 59’’)

It is situated 606 m. above the sea level, at the north-western part of the fortress of Loja, 500 far from the “Cortijo del Aire” and 5 km. far from Loja. It is placed at a conic hill, at the Genil riverside, and it has 4 ha of extension, most of them occupied by rests of a Iberian oppidum; this place continued inhabited both in the Romanic and Islamic ages. The tower has circular plane and the eastern wall preserves 2 m. high. It guarded the basins of the Genil River and other dark points to the west. It has direct view of the fortress of Loja and of the rest of the towers of Loja which have been described, even “Martilla” tower (Zagra).

29.- “La Silla del Moro” tower (37º 10’ 45’’/ 4º 11’ 58’’)

It is placed 587 m. above the sea level, 2 km. far from the farmhouse “Garces”, and 7 km. far from the fortress of Loja, at the left side of the road Loja-Iznájar, 2 km. far from Ventas de Santa Bárbara. Close to this place there are some minio mines. It has circular plane and it is 3 m. high at the southern part, being very damaged in the northern part. It is made of masonry. It has direct view of the fortress of Loja, and of the following towers: “la Torrecilla” and “Cortijo del Aire” to the north-west, and “Majada de Cobo” at the Sierra of Loja, to the south east. It guarded, to the south, the dark points and the limits with Iznájar, and the Sierra close to Iznájar.

EL SALAR- LINE

At the southern part of the River Genil, following the course of the River of Alhama, which flows on the former, there some towers, which would be considered to draw other line, as a continuation to the one Tocón-Río Genil, and connecting at the same time with the fortress of Loja. Most of these towers, as the previouly described, belong to the alquería (hamlet) type.

30.- Torreón de los Tajos (Salar) (37º 08’ 12’’/ 4º 04’ 11’’)

It is placed 2500 m far from El Salar, at the kilometric point 12 of the road El Salar-Alhama, at the hill of the same name, 743 m. above the sea level. This tower was destroyed few years ago, and it is surrounded of some rests of ceramics. It guarded the dark areas from El Salar to the “Gallina” tower.

31.- La Gallina tower (Salar) (37º 05’ 22’’/ 4º 01’ 29’’)

It is situated 984 m. above the sea level, at the kilometric point 18 of the road Alhama-el Salar, at the limit between these two towns. It is made of masonry, preserving 1.5 m. high, and being very damaged. It is surrounded of too many materials so that it is very difficult to distinguish if it has circular or square plane. Nowadays, it preserves a small cave, so that it is thought that at the beginning, it was not a stretch construction. This tower would connect with the tower “Buenavista”, and would controlled the lands and dark points between it and the following tower, the tower of “la Solana”.

32.- “La Solana” tower (Alhama de Granada) (37º 01’ 22’’/ 3º 59’ 29’’) It is placed 3500 m. far from Alhama de Granada at the landscape known as farmhouse “Rodero”. It has circular plane and great dimensions, made of masonry, preserving 10m. high, it would have at least three floors, although nowadays, all of them have their roofs destroyed. Close to this tower, there are some rests of other constructions, confirming the existence of an habitat surronding it, and therefore, it would be an alquería (hamlet). It guarded the lands from Alhama to the “Agrón” tower, and the ones connecting to the tower “Buenavista” to the north, close to (Fig. 11).

33.- “Buenavista” tower (Alhama de Granada) (37º 14’ 40’’/ 3º 58’ 17’’)

It is placed 10 km. far from Alhama de Granada and from Moraleda de Zafayona, 984 m. above the sea level. It is a stretch construction made of masonry, having octagonal plane, and preserving 3.10 m. high. It has a good view of the lands connecting the towers of “la Gallina” and “Solana”, and also, of the “Agrón” Atalaya to the north-west, guarding a wire extension of La Vega de Granada (Fig. 12).

ALHAMA- LINE

This zone had a great importance, because is the main pathway between la Vega de Granada and the coast of Malaga. At the moment, only one tower is known, although it is possible that another two disappeared towers could exist, completing the system.

34.-¿“Donna” tower?

The first of these two towers would be situated to the west of the fortress of Alhama de Granada, at a place known as tower “Donna”, close to the farmhouse with the same name. This tower would connect the fortress of Alhama with “la Torrecilla” tower.

35.- La torrecilla (Alhama de Granada) (36º 58’ 21’’/ 4º 04’ 11’’) It is situated 15 km. far from Alhama de Granada, 1321 m. above the sea level. It is a stretch construction, made of masonry, and circular plane, preserving 40 cm. high at its northern wall. It would guard the lands to the south of Alhama de Granada, the Sierra of Alhama and “el boquete” of Zafarraya.

36.- ¿“Jota” tower?

For completing the system, it is possible that other tower would exist between Alhama and Zafarraya, following the tower of la Torrecilla, at the place known as “Jota” tower (T.Blanca), 5 km. far from Zafarraya.

LA VEGA AT THE SURROUNDING OF GRANADA

Northern side

37.- Atalaya tower () (37º 18’ 36’’/ 3º 34’ 11’’)

It is situated close to the pass of “la Cruz de la Atalaya”, 1156 m. above the sea level, 7 km. far from and 5 km. far from Cogollos. It guarded, together with the towers of “Chaparral de Cartuja” and “”, the lands and cliffs at the northern part of . It is made of masonry. It is probably the best conserved tower of all the system, except by the presence of a hole at its northern base. It is a stretch construction, having a room 5 m. above the floor, two windows, one on the northern wall and the other on the southern one; it preserves the roof of the room. It is 8 m. high.

38.- Chaparral de Cartuja tower (Güevéjar) (37º 15’ 21’’/ 3º 36’ 52’’)

It is situated 5 km. far from Güevéjar, 899 m. above the sea level, between the farmhouses of “el Chaparral de Cartuja”, to the west, and “el Regajo”, to the east, 400 m. far from the road to Güevéjar. It has circular plane, and it is very damaged, preserving 80 cm. high. It is made of masonry. It completed, together with the towers of “Albolote”, “Cogollos” and “el Castillejo”, the control of the lands to the north of la Alhambra, and the valley from Iznalloz to the Cubillas River. The “Castillejo”, 1085 m. above the sea level, is placed at the north-western of Güevéjar, being a place with a shape of small plateau and surrounded by to many cliffs, between Güevéjar and Nívar.

39.- La Atalaya tower (Albolote) (37º 14’ 47’’/ 3º 40’ 55’’)

It is situated 885 above the sea level, close to “Collado del Pino”, 4 km. far from the town of Albolote, and 5 km. far from the “Cubillas” reservoir, opposite to the tower of “el Chaparral de Cartuja”. It is made of masonry, having two doors at the upper part of the tower. The first half is a stretch construction, similarly to the tower of “Cogollos Vega” and the towers of Moclín. It is 9 m. high. There is a high probability of crumbling at the northern part of the tower, in the area surrounding the window. There are some rests of a construction close to the base of the tower. It has a good view of the “Cubillas” reservoir and “el Chaparral” area, to the north, the fortress of Moclín, to the north-west, and Romilla and Santa Fe, to the south (Fig. 13).

40.- The craggy rock of Zujaira () (3° 48’ 22’’, 37° 15’ 49’’)

It is placed 500 m above the sea level, at the north-western part of Zujaira, close to "el Peñon" steep cliff, at the kilometric point 6 of the road Íllora-Zujaira. The high of the rock, 17 m., made it a vigilance point, and it is surrounded of ceramics in a surface of 1.5 ha. This place could be a destroyed Arabian emplacement, which it is referred in the chronicles of the conquest of Granada.

Occidental side

41.- Romilla tower (Granada) (3° 47’40’’, 37° 12’ 34’’)

This big tower is placed 300 m. far from Romilla, close to the River Genil, and 3.5 km. far from Santa Fe. It has three floors, being very similar to those towers fixed to the wall of La Alhambra. It has some loopholes and windows; at the western and eastern walls, there are two loopholes at the second floor and one window at the third one. On the northern and southern walls, there is only one loophole at the second floor and one window at the third one. The door is at the eastern wall, 2 m. above the base of the tower. The stairs and the roofs of the three floors, and even the door, are crumbled. The dimensions of the plane are: 14.3 m. at the western side, 7.26 at the northern and southern sides. It is 12 m. high. It is made of masonry. The brick is found in the doors, windows and stairs. This tower can be considered as the end of the northern side, as indicated by its situation in the same line as the craggy rock of Zujaira (Pinos Puente), but being the beginning of a group of towers which is placed at the southern part of the river Genil. From the north to the south, it can be found the following towers: “Boldonar”, “La Malaha” and “Agrón”.

42.- “Boldonar” atalaya (Cerro Alonso) (37º 09’ 19’’/ 3º 50’ 20’’)

It is placed at the eastern part of “Alonso” hill and the stream, 4.5 km. far from the village of Peñuelas, 2 km. far from the village of Chimeneas, and 675 m. above the sea level. It is 9 km. far from the airport of Granada, few meters far from the top of “Boldomar”. It is one of the smallest towers of this work. It has a 4 m. side, square plane, preserving 7 m. high at the western wall; it had three floors, being still visibles the separation lines between the first and the second floors. It is built of TAPIAL, having a base of bricks and masonry, used for separating the floors. Great amounts of Arabic ceramics are scattered all around an 1 ha olive farm, which is close to the tower. The following towers can be seen from this point: La Malahá, Romilla, and far away, the Agrón Atalaya (Fig. 15).

43.- La Malahá atalaya (37º 06’ 39’’/ 3º 44’ 13’’)

It is situated at the top with the same name, 883 m. above the sea level, at the pathway of “Chinchilla”, 2.5 km. far from the town of La Malahá. It is completely destroyed, being visible the conic shape of its rests. It is surrounded by rests of ceramic. A salt mine and a fountain can be found few meters far from this tower. It guarded the plains of “Escúzar”, and . The Atalaya towers closer to this one are: “Boldomar”, to the west, close to Chimeneas, and “Agrón”, to the south.

44.- “Agrón Atalaya (37º 01’ 13’’/ 3º 57’ 44’’) Out off the previous line, half way between this zone and city of Granada, at the South-western part of the city, it is situated the village of Agrón, which gives name to a tower, very close to it. It is situated 1168 m. above the sea level, opposite to the “Bermejales” reservoir, 14 km far from Alhama de Granada, to the west, and 4 km far from Agrón, close to the steep cliff of “las Rejas”. This tower, placed to the east of the fortress, guarded the land of Alhama, to the south, and “las Ventas de Huelma”, in direction to Escúzar. It is a stretch construction of octagonal plane, being made of masonry, similar to the tower of “La Encantada” (Íllora); it is quite conserved at its northern side, preserving 2 m. high, but very damaged at the southern side. Two meters far from the base, it is distinguished a small pool, which is actually full, and very difficult to date.

THE TRANSVERSAL INTERNAL SYSTEM

It can be considered that some towers which draw a line from the north to the south, were constructed to form a second transversal shelter, at the northern part of la Vega. They could guarded the territory between the “external” fortresses and the towers closer to Granada.

This shelter would begin from “AGICAMPE” TOWER, which had direct view of the “AMARGUILLO” TOWER (disappeared), being situated at the hill of “la Torre”, 3 km. far from Villanueva de Mesías. This tower connected with the “ENCANTADA” TOWER (Brácana), which had an additional vigilance point at the place known as CERRO VACAS. From this point, there is a direct view of “EL MORRÓN” of Parapanda, to the north, and far away, of LA ENCANTADA, EL FUERTE and CLEMENTINO (Tocón) towers.

Next one, the point known as “El Fuerte” (TORRE DE LOS INGLESES), 816 m. above the sea level, very close to the place known as LA ATALAYA, 2 km. far from this village, where a disappeared tower, at the hill of “Taura” is registered. It could be followed by the PEDRIZAGUILLA tower, 821 m. above the sea level, close to the “Los Cortijuelos” farmhouse, 3 km far from Íllora (disappeared). Next one, el PEÑON DE ZUJAIRA. This point does not have rests of any towers, although it was clearly a natural Atalaya.

Next one, la TORRE of Pinos Puente, which is a very important town to access to Granada, being famous due to its Arabic bridge. Next one, el ALTO DE SIERRA ELVIRA, 828 m. above the sea level, surrounded by a great amount of ceramics. Next one, would be la ATALAYA of Albolote, which would connect the ones to the east, CHAPARRAL DE CARTUJA and COGOLLOS VEGA, having direct view of la Alhambra de Granada.

This would be the second shelter of towers and vigilance points at the side of la Vega de Granada. Too many of these placed are surrounded by some rests of ceramics, indicating the presence of human emplacements, which would be identified with some of the alquerías cited by Ibn al-Jatib. The construction of these towers at lower geographical places, would indicate the necessity of connecting the border towers with the internal area. In fact, in winter, the further towers, as the one placed at the Morrón of Sierra Parapanda, would be of no use, due to the cloudy environment found at la Vega de Granada at this season.

REFERENCES