Cultural activities
Visit to the city of Lorca
A medieval bastion with two towers
The imposing Lorca Castle (Region of Murcia) dominates a vast territory. Built on a hill inhabited since prehistoric times, the fortress has medieval origins, dating back to the 8th century when Lorca was under Islamic rule. In 1244, with the city's surrender to Prince Alfonso, the castle became one of the most important strongholds of the Kingdom of Castile, as it was located on the border with the Kingdom of Granada. During the 13th century, King Alfonso X the Wise ordered the castle to be fortified, and the two towers we can see today were built: the main tower, or keep, called the Alfonsine Tower, and the westernmost tower, called the Spur Tower. The entire fortress, including both towers, suffered significant damage in the 2011 earthquake, but they have since been restored and are open to the public.
A synagogue of exceptional value
The synagogue was built in the 15th century, and its main characteristic is that, once abandoned, it had no other use. Therefore, its ruins remain exactly as the Jews left them when they departed the Iberian Peninsula in 1492. Although it was subjected to gradual plundering over the centuries, it has exceptional archaeological value, being one of the few in Spain that retains all its distinctive features. Measuring 20 x 10 meters, it is located near the remains of the old hermitage of San Clemente, also from the Late Middle Ages. However, the synagogue was built in a small valley, as it was not permitted to be taller than Christian churches. Inside, apart from the herringbone brick floor, several elements highlight its religious use: the benches or benches, the hekhal where a cabinet containing the Torah was located, and the tevah, a platform from which the reading of the sacred book took place.
