Atalaya Castle. Virtual Tour

Atalaya Castle, a travel in to the past of Villena

The Arquiavis team had the exciting opportunity to create a captivating virtual tour of Villena Castle, a breathtaking fortress built by the Almohad Empire in the late 12th century as a refuge for the Muslim population. The castle’s interior, featuring two stunning vaults unique in Spain, still stands alongside the nearby Biar Fortress. In 1240, King James I conquered the castle, and following the Treaty of Almizra, the Manuel family became its first feudal lords. By the 14th century, the famous writer Juan Manuel, author of El Conde Lucanor, renovated the castle. The Pacheco family expanded the fortress in the 15th century, adding new floors and a second wall. In 1476, after a brutal siege, the Catholic Monarchs seized control, and remnants of the battle, including projectiles in the bailey, still mark the castle today. This virtual tour brings the rich history of Villena Castle to life, revealing its dramatic past.

Atalaya Castle: Spain's hidden graffiti treasures Revealed

Villena Castle’s graffiti collection stands as one of the most remarkable and historically significant in Spain, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of those imprisoned within its walls. Created predominantly by prisoners held between the 16th and 19th centuries, these markings serve as an intriguing record of turbulent times. Some of the graffiti belong to Habsburg supporters, captured during the Spanish War of Succession (1707–1714), while others were left by those who resisted the French occupation during the Peninsular War (1808–1814). These powerful inscriptions not only reveal the personal stories of the past but also offer a rare, artistic window into Spain's history of political conflict and resistance.

  • This graffiti depicts an elevation of a building with a religious purpose, consisting of three vaults and a bell tower with a rope for ringing the bells. Nearby, an inscription was found from a bishop who was imprisoned in 1812.

  • This graffiti represents a Caramuzal, also referred to by sailors as a Corchapin. It represents a type of Turkish merchant vessel from the 17th century.

  • Image depicting Villena Castle as it appeared in 1812.

  • A large building, partially lost, once occupied the entire wall.

  • Another image showing a building elevation. At its left we can see a religious symbol of a lily in a vase represents the Virgin's purity. These graffiti are believed to have been incised around 1812.

Castle 3D scanning process

Using cutting-edge technology, we embarked on an exciting journey to scan Villena Castle with a Mavic 3 Enterprise drone, capturing stunning images through an oblique flight mission. Over 1,000 images were taken during multiple pre-programmed flights, each lasting 15-20 minutes. These images were then processed with Agisoft Metashape software, allowing us to create a lightweight 3D model with remarkable geometry and textures. To enhance the experience, we used a 360° camera to capture immersive spherical panoramas, assembling them into a virtual tour that you can explore by clicking the link on the left. For detailed shots of the castle's graffiti and intricate wall features, we also used a smartphone. To learn more about this historic fortress, visit the link below, directing you to Villena’s tourist office for further information.