Christian Walls of Madrid, Medieval fortification in central Madrid, Spain
The Christian Walls are a medieval fortification that ran around Madrid's historic center and originally featured about 140 semicircular towers built from limestone and flint. The best-preserved section stands in a residential courtyard on Cava Baja, measuring roughly 20 meters long and 11 meters high.
The walls were built between the 11th and 12th centuries after Madrid became Christian, expanding on earlier fortifications from the 9th century. This construction reflects the shift that transformed the city from an Islamic center to a Christian one.
The walls mark Madrid's shift from an Islamic settlement to a Christian fortress, showing how different building traditions came together. Visitors can still see how these two styles mixed in the fragments that remain today.
Visitors should head to Cava Baja, where the preserved wall fragments are accessible to the public. It helps to check beforehand if special viewings are offered, since only limited sections are open for visitors.
The flint in these walls was deliberately chosen for its shiny, golden quality that gleamed in the sunlight. This inspired an old Madrid saying that played on the fire-like appearance of these glimmering stones.
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