Wall of Daroca explained
The Wall of Daroca (es|link=no|Muralla de Daroca) is a fortification located in Daroca in the Spanish Province of Zaragoza. First built as a Muslim fortification in the 11th[1] or 12th centuries, the wall expanded with Daroca under Christian rule as the city itself expanded. The original wall had segments broken up by the Castillo Mayor (English: Bigger castle). It has around 4 kilometers of walls with several gates and major tower[2] and 114 towers.[3]
The wall was used defensively during multiple wars, including the War of the Two Peters, Peninsular War, and the Carlist Wars,[4] in which the city was captured several times.
The wall is made of bricks held together with red-gray mortar. It uses dimension stones and ashlar for the towers. The wall is also supported by buttresses.[1]
City officials have said that 64% of the wall is estimated to be in poor condition, and parts of it have collapsed. There have been at least 3 such incidents in the years leading up to 2022, with the greatest damage being in the old Castillo Mayor section.[5] [6]
Segments
Major segments of the wall include:
- Castillo Mayor, the original part
- Puerta Baja, which has two grand towers
- Puerta Alta
- Puerta del Arrabal/Puerta de San Martín de la Parra, which is built in a Mudéjar style
- Portal de Valencia, which has a sunroom on top
- Muro de los Tres Guitarros/Torre de San Valero, a tower with windows reminiscent of a guitar
- Torre del Aguila, built in the War of the Two Peters, has since crumbled
- Torreón de San Cristobal, one of the three main towers
- Cerro de San Jorge, built mostly in the 15th century, and a main tower
Notes and References
- Web site: Muralla en Daroca . 4 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801205827/turismodezaragoza.es/provincia/patrimonio/medieval/muralla-daroca.html . 1 August 2017.
- Web site: Walled enclosure and castle in Daroca: monuments in Daroca, Zaragoza at Spain is culture. . www.spainisculture.com . 9 September 2023.
- Web site: Muralla urbana de Daroca . www.caminodelcid.org . 10 September 2023.
- Web site: José Luis Corral Lafuente . Museo de la Historia y las Artes de Daroca . Museo Arqueológico Nacional . 10 September 2023.
- Web site: Aragón . Heraldo de . Nuevo derrumbe en la muralla de Daroca a la espera de fondos para su consolidación . heraldo.es . 10 September 2023 . es.
- Web site: Press . Europa . Un tramo de la muralla del Castillo Mayor de Daroca se derrumba debido al "mal estado" del recinto . www.europapress.es . 10 September 2023 . 19 February 2019.
