Castillo de los Duques de Alba facts for kids
The Castillo de los Duques de Alba is a famous castle and palace located in Alba de Tormes, a town in western Spain. It's in the Salamanca province. This historic building was once the main home of the powerful House of Alba family. Today, much of the castle is in ruins, but you can still visit it and explore its history.
History of the Castle
The story of the castle begins way back in the 12th century. Around that time, King Ferdinand II of León ordered a watchtower to be built here. This tower was placed on a spot overlooking the river Tormes. It was a great place to keep an eye on the surrounding area.
Later, King Sancho IV of Castile changed the watchtower into a proper castle. However, this castle was later destroyed during the time of King Henry IV of Castile.
The important House of Alba family then took over the site. García Álvarez de Toledo, 1st Duke of Alba rebuilt the castle. He made it into a strong fortress and also a private home for his family.
His grandson, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, transformed the castle even more. He turned it into a true renaissance palace. From the outside, it looked simple and strong. But inside, it was very fancy with beautiful frescos. These paintings showed scenes like the Battle of Mühlberg, where the Duke was a hero.
Sadly, during the Napoleonic Wars (early 1800s), the castle was mostly destroyed. Only one tower remained standing. This tower is still owned by the Alba family today.
In 1991, archaeologists started digging at the site. They wanted to uncover the old parts of the castle-palace. These excavations help us learn more about its past glory.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de los Duques de Alba para niños
