Barri de la Vila, recinte medieval de Requena, Medieval historic district in Requena, Spain.
Barri de la Vila is a medieval residential district built on a limestone hillside and surrounded by defensive walls, towers, and multiple access gates. The streets follow an irregular layout that adapts to the natural slope, showing how different people shaped the space over time.
The district began as an Islamic settlement during the Almohad period with original urban patterns rooted in that era. Later Christian rule brought changes including more organized streets and the addition of several religious buildings that shaped the community.
Three main churches Santa Maria, San Nicolas, and El Salvador shape the district with their different architectural styles and periods. Each building helps visitors understand how people lived and worshipped in this space across different centuries.
Wear comfortable shoes because the narrow cobblestone streets go uphill and downhill with many stairs throughout the area. The tourist office near Plaza de la Villa offers maps and information about the underground caves and historical buildings worth seeing.
Beneath the district lies an extensive network of underground caves that once served as storage for grain, wool, and livestock. These chambers allowed the settlement to function as an important trading center despite being far from the coast.
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