October 2008

This year’s castle issue is made up of two stamps devoted to the castles of Maqueda in Toledo and La Calahorra in Granada.

"Maqueda"

Built on the top of a hill, the castle of Maqueda has perhaps a roman origin and later on a Arab one. It was conquered by Alfonso IV who in 1177 handed it over to the Order of Calatrava. King Enrique I lived in this fortress under the tutelage of Alvaro de Luna. It has a square floor-plan and round towers at the corners and centre. As well as a tower of an interesting architecture called Vela. The castle door has an imperfect arch shape with a split alfiz holding the coat of arms of the Cárdenas and Enríquez families. It underwent a major restoration in the XV century and is currently being remodelled. It was declared Historic and Artistic Monument on the 3rd July 1931.

"La Calahorra"

The splendid castle of La Calahorra was built by Rodrigo de Vivar y Mendoza between 1509 and 1512. It is plain in the outside but the inside is beautifully decorated. It has a square floor-plan and robust cubes at the angles with strange domes on top. Its strong appearance holds inside a stately palace with ten halls, chapel and lavish rooms decorated by the Genovese with renaissance elements brought from Italy. The only door, of an imperfect arch shape, holds the coat of arms of the second wife of Rodrigo de Vivar. It is well preserved and in 1993 was awarded a special recognition by the government of Andalucía.