Maqueda is a Spanish town located 80 kilometers from
Madrid and 45 kilometers from
Toledo
Toledo most commonly refers to:
* Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain
* Province of Toledo, Spain
* Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States
Toledo may also refer to:
Places Belize
* Toledo District
* Toledo Settlement
Bolivia
* Toledo, Orur ...
. Located within the
autonomous community Castilla-La Mancha and the
province of Toledo
Toledo is a province of central Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Madrid, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, Cáceres, and Ávila. Its capital is the city of Toledo.
...
, Maqueda is located in the comarca of
Torrijos. The town is best known for its remarkably well-preserved castle, the ''Castillo de la Vela''.
Etymology
The name "Maqueda" comes from the root ''mkd'' and the
Arabic term ''Maqqada'', which means "stable", "firm", or "solid". Other experts believe that the name derives from the root ''kyd'' and the Arabic term ''Makîda'', which means "strategically located" or "strong plaza".
The ''castillo de la vela''
The ''castillo de la vela'', also known as the ''castillo de Maqueda'' is located on the outskirts of town. Originally of Moorish design, the
castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
was rebuilt and expanded during the 15th century.
It was eventually appropriated by the state, which established a
Guardia Civil post within the castle and provided for its future
conservation.
The castle is
rectangular in shape and sits on two distinct
elevations. The castle's protections include 3.5-meter-thick walls,
moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...
s on two sides, and a number of circular
towers. The exterior of the castle is free to visit, though visitors are not permitted to enter the castle proper.
The castle was declared an artistic historical
monument on 3 June 1931.
References
Municipalities in the Province of Toledo
Towns in Spain
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