Castle of Arevalo

The Castle of Arevalo, locally known as Castillo de Arevalo, is located not far from the meeting of the Adaja and Arevalillo rivers in the north of the province of Avila in Spain. It is said that it was built in the 14th century by King Pedro I, the Cruel, who locked his wife. Doña Blanco de Bourbon, in it. Shortly after it was given to Don Alvaro de Zuñiga, along with the title of Duke, by King Enrique IV as a reward for his loyalty.

It is also said that after the death of Juan II of Castile, Isabel of Portugal – maddened – was secluded in the fortress, mother of the future Isabel la Católica and Alfonso de Castilla, with whom she supposedly lived in the castle. However it is more likely that they lived in houses located near the Puerta de Alcocer, next to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

The castle was reformed during the 16th century when it was changed into an artillery fortress, including the conversion to a pentagonal layout and the addition of a great Tower of the Tribute, along with features characteristic of the Mudejar which was typical of the area.

During the reign of the Catholic Kings Isabel and Fernando in the 16th century, the castle became a state prison. Various Spanish nobles were incarcerated in its walls and Prince William of Orange was a prisoner there in the 16th century.

After its use as a prison was over the castle fell to ruin and it was restored in the 1950’s by the Ministry of Agriculture. It is now a museum and houses the permanent exhibition “Castillo y silo. A unique place in the world.”