Castillo de la Asomada, Medieval castle in El Palmar, Spain.

Castillo de la Asomada is a rectangular fortress of rammed-earth and mortar walls, each side articulated by three rectangular buttress towers. Inside, a large quadrangular courtyard is flanked by two rectangular bodies divided into longitudinal rooms. The possible entrance lies on the eastern front, defined by one of the towers. No vault springings survive inside, suggesting the work was left unfinished after the levelling plinth.

The fortress on Cabezo del Puerto dates from the Islamic period, possibly the 12th century, and is attributed to Ibn Mardanish, known as the Wolf King. It formed a defensive complex with the lower and upper Portazgo castles, all built at the same time with similar plans. The site is the only archaeological point showing Murcia was occupied before the castles were built.

The name Asomada refers to the lookout position over the Puerto de la Cadena pass. The unfinished walls served as a watchpoint from the Mediterranean coast toward Murcia for centuries and remain a symbol of the city. The nearby Portazgo Inferior may have housed a garden or zoo for exotic animals imported from the East.

The fortress sits at about 532 meters elevation within Carrascoy Natural Park and is reached from kilometer 407 of the N-301 highway via hiking trails. The location requires some physical effort, so visitors should prepare with appropriate gear and protection from the elements.

Research based on King James I's 'Llibre dels Feyts' from 1266 suggests the fortress may have functioned as a royal mausoleum for regional emirs. This theory would give the site an important ceremonial purpose beyond simple defense.