Historial site

The Castle of the Duchess, also known as the Castle of Sabinillas, is an 18th-century coastal fortification located in the municipality of Manilva, in the province of Málaga. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), its importance lies not only in its military architecture, but also in the fact that it sits on an archaeological site of enormous value, with remains dating back to the Roman, Late Roman, and Muslim periods. Today, it is an interpretation centre that combines historical dissemination with municipal cultural management.

History and Evolution

Roman Period (1st - 4th centuries AD): Beneath the castle lie the remains of a Roman fish salting factory. This industry, dedicated to the production of "garum" (a highly prized fish sauce) and fish preservation, was the economic basis of a prosperous Roman settlement. Salting pools, baths, and a necropolis have been uncovered.
Late Roman and Visigothic Period (5th - 7th centuries): A Paleo-Christian basilica and a villa were built on top of the ruins of the factory, demonstrating the continuity of settlement.
Muslim Period: There is evidence of a small Islamic rural settlement (known as an alquería).
18th Century (1767): The construction of the current castle was ordered by the Duke of Arcos, Don Antonio Ponce de León, from whom it takes its popular name. Its objective was to defend the coast from frequent incursions by Barbary pirates, protect the mouth of the Guadiaro River, and monitor the nearby border with Gibraltar.
19th Century: With the decline of piracy, the castle lost its military function and was used as a municipal cemetery until the 1980s.
20th-21st Centuries: After the cemetery was abandoned, the Manilva City Council began a project for its restoration and enhancement. Archaeological excavations brought the important underlying site to light. Today, the castle houses the Municipal Archaeological Museum and is an active cultural centre.

Essential Vocabulary

Here are some key words you will need to understand the history of the Castillo de la Duquesa.

Word/Expression	Definition	Example Sentence
Fortification	A strong building or structure built to defend a place against attack.	The castle is an 18th-century fortification
Fish salting factory	A place where fish was cleaned and preserved with salt for a long time	The Romans built a fish salting factory here.
Garum	A popular, strong-tasting sauce made from fish, used in Ancient Roman cooking.	They produced garum for export across the Roman Empire.
Berber pirates	Pirates from North Africa who often attacked and robbed towns on the Spanish coast.	The castle protected the area from Berber pirates.
Necropolis	A large, ancient cemetery with many tombs, often from an ancient city.	They found a Roman necropolis with many tombs.
To excavate	To dig in the ground carefully to find old objects, buildings, or information about the past.	Archaeologists excavated the Roman factory.
Remains / Ruins	The old parts of a building or structure that are still standing after a long time.	We can see the remains of the Roman baths.

Exercise

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