Almodóvar’s monumental and sinister-looking castle dominates the view from far and wide, rising cinematically above the Río Guadalquivir. It was founded in the 8th century but owes most of its present appearance to post-Reconquista rebuilding. Because the castle had never been taken by force, Pedro I ("the Cruel") used it as a treasure store. Its sense of impregnability is still potent within its massive turreted walls.
You can climb several of the nine towers, the mightiest being the Torre del Homenaje (Tower of Homage), which also contains the dungeon, where medieval conditions are re-created by a mannequin tableau. A film on the castle's history, with English subtitles, is screened in the chapel. You can also catch it on celluloid in the seventh series of Game of Thrones for which it doubled as Casterly Rock and Highgarden.
There's free parking 600m below the castle. From there you can either walk up or take a shuttle bus (€1).
