The Castle of Alcala la Real, they are willing, as it was usual in the city-fortress Moorish architecture, in three areas:
he outdoor complex, formed by the defenses of the medina, closed by a wide near that included several suburbs, including the so-called "Old Outskirts", best preserved. Its original layout, corresponds to the XI and XII centuries and, currently, remain standing very little remains of the wall. This wall was initially built with mud and mortar, although it seems to be that it was remodeled in the centuries XIII and XIV, revistiendola of masonry walls. Some authors consider that there was another even closer external, which was probably a Albacara of earth and wood.
The Alcazaba, or indoors, which occupies the entire area of the plateau located in the summit of the Cerro de la Mota, and that was the site of the original city, surrounded by a wall. At the time, had a number of doors that give access to the interior: The "Puerta de Santiago", was located in the extreme northwest, and communicated directly with the outside of the medina; the "San Bartolome" was in the extreme southwest, and also accessed directly to the outside. However, the main access went up to the so-called "Cuesta de la Mota" and was done through seven gates, of which, at present, there are only three on foot. In order we get access to a first door (disappeared and without known name) and later at the door "The lances", protected by a high defensive tower. Then the monumental door in Bend, called "Door Image", with double archway mixed half a point (the first of them) and horseshoes (the second). It is very similar to the door of the Justice of the Alhambra. After this, contained the missing "Door of the Banner" and "De Aguilera". And then still had crossed the "Door of the weight of the flour," which was the communicating the Alcazaba with the plaza alta, and where it came from the payment of tariffs of entry to the city. A final access passed by the so-called "Augie" or "Gavan", a covered walkway that accessed the walled enclosure, and that was destroyed by an earthquake in the XVI century.
Finally, the Alcázar, the last defensive enclosure, stood at the highest part of the alcazaba, with a triangular or trapezoidal (with one of its sides very small), with the Tower of Homage, the "Bell Tower" and "Mocha Tower". Access to the interior was carried out through a door located under the tower of homage, layout very similar to the Door Monaita of the capital of the Kingdom of Granada.
The whole structure is built with masonry and has been restored by the Junta de Andalucia. Some authors maintain that could have been originally built in mud, though during the restorations carried out has not detected any evidence of this.
