The Tower of Bones is an Islamic watchtower, the remains of which are exhibited in the underground parking structure in the
Plaza de Oriente, in the Spanish city of Madrid. It was built in the
11th century
The 11th century is the period from 1001 ( MI) through 1100 ( MC) in accordance with the Julian calendar, and the 1st century of the 2nd millennium.
In the history of Europe, this period is considered the early part of the High Middle Ages. Th ...
by the
Muslim population that founded the Mayrit fortress two centuries earlier, as an integral part of its defensive system.
Background
The tower was located outside the
citadel and served to keep watch in the Arenal stream area, in the northwest of the capital, next to the place currently occupied by the
Royal Palace
This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent.
Africa
* Abdin Palace, Cairo
* Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo
* Koubbeh Palace, Cairo
* Tahra Palace, Cairo
* Menelik Palace
* Jubilee Palace
* Guenete Leul Palace
* Imperial Palace- Massa ...
.
With the conquest of
Madrid by
Alfonso VI in 1083, the tower was incorporated as an
albarrana tower
An albarrana tower ( ar, البراني, al-barrānī, lit=exterior) is a defensive tower detached from the curtain wall and connected to it by a bridge or an arcade. They were built by Muslims when they occupied the Iberian Peninsula between the ...
into the
Christian wall, which the
Madrilenos built as an extension of the
Muslim walls.
In addition to protecting the
Fountain of the Pear Tree Canals, which was located in what is now
Plaza de Isabel II
The Plaza de Isabel II (also known as Plaza de Ópera) is a historic public square between the Sol and Palacio wards in the central district of Madrid. The plaza is at the convergence of (from the Puerta del Sol) and the minor roads Arrieta, ...
, it guaranteed the security of the , one of the four entrances to the
Christian wall.
This was near the confluence of Calle de la Unión and Calle Vergara, next to the southern façade of the
Royal Theatre.
The tower, which takes its name from its proximity to the old Islamic cemetery of "Huesa del Raf," and it floorplan is in a square. It combines
masonry and
ashlars
Ashlar () is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared, or a structure built from such stones. Ashlar is the finest stone masonry unit, generally rectangular cuboid, mentioned by Vitruvi ...
, made of
flint and
limestone.
In 1996, it was discovered with the remodeling of the
Plaza de Oriente, during the construction of an underground parking lot. Only its base is partially preserved.
See also
*
Muslim Walls of Madrid
The Muslim Walls of Madrid (also known as the Arab Walls of Madrid), of which some vestiges remain, are located in the Spanish city of Madrid. They are probably the oldest construction extant in the city. They were built in the 9th century, during ...
*
Christian Walls of Madrid
The Christian Walls of Madrid, also known as the Medieval Walls, were built in Madrid, Spain between the 11th and 12th centuries, once the city passed to the Crown of Castile. They were built as an extension of the original 9th-century Muslim W ...
*
Tower of Narigües
The Tower of Narigües ( es, link=no, torre Narigües del Pozacho) was an albarrana tower in Madrid. Its remains are along the old Muslim wall of Madrid. Located at 83 Calle Mayor, next to the Segovia Viaduct that crosses Calle de Segovia. It was ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
History of Madrid
Fortifications in Spain
Walls towers in Spain