The Castillo de Gibralfaro,
as it is called in Spanish, is also one of Malaga’s
characteristic features. It was built in the first half of
the 14th century by Yusuf I, caliph of Granada. The location
chosen for the castle was a hilltop on which years earlier
a Phoenician lighthouse had been built. Due to that lighthouse,
the Muslims called it “Yabal-Faruk”, meaning “Lighthouse
Hill” and that is essentially where the castle derived
its name from.
The Castle had a prominent role during the
Christian Reconquest of Spain, when in 1487 the Catholic Kings
managed to capture it from the Moors and use it to keep war
prisoners in. Much later in 1812 the castle was destroyed
by the French army and its ruins have remained there to this
day, sharing the hilltop with cypress and pine trees of the
area.
This castle represents an important part of
Malaga's history. Come for a visit to get a feel of what things
were like in days gone by while taking your Spanish
Language Course in Malaga.
