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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

What´s the Difference Between an Alcazar and an Alcazaba?

What´s the difference between an Alcazar and an Alcazaba was my question. A thought while strolling around the impressive Alcazaba in Malaga, the sprawling hilltop fortress with views across the city and the Mediterranean Sea.

Almost on par with the Alhambra I was enthralled. Patios, roof turrets, death-defying wall-top walkways (no health and safety barriers here), arches, pebble mosaics and water features. Just my thing. On a warm Saturday in April there were few visitors, maybe being the two-hour lunch time helped too.

Alcazaba in Malaga
Alcazaba in Malaga


I spent two hours and took over a hundred photos there. It was stunning, romantic and so obviously Arabic by design, built mainly in the 11th century. It is now linked to the Castillo de Gibralfaro (another must-do visit, with even better views of the port, city and Med) a little further up the hill.

On returning home I asked my eldest sons (Spanish school system educated) if they knew what the difference was between an Alcazar and an Alcazaba, they didn't. My understanding so far - an Alcazar was a fortified palace built for a king, of which there were many in the Moorish era, and an Alcazaba was a fortified or defensive city, home to the troops.

Malaga Alcazaba
Alcazaba in Malaga


So what is the difference between a castle and an Alcazar or an Alcazaba? Alcazar is a Spanish word meaning castle, palace or fortress, from Arabic - It´s all clear now isn´t it.

Below I´ve listed the Alcazar and Alcazaba list of Spanish monuments, there are also many monuments with the title castle or castillo which I haven´t put down but will look into also.

Alcazaba, Malaga
Alcazaba in Malaga



Fortresses, Alcaczas or Alcazabas in Spain

Alcazaba de Almeria

Alcazaba and Murallas del Cerro de San Cristobal in Almeria

Alcazaba de Antequera

Alcazaba de Guadix

Alcazaba de Malaga

Alcazar Andalusi in Cordoba

Alcazar de Cadima in Granada

Alcazar de Don Rey Pedro in Carmona

Alcazar Genil

Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos in Cordoba

Alcazar de Jerez de la Frontera

Alcazar de Salamanca

Alcazar de Segovia

Alcazar de Sevilla

Alcazar de Toledo

Alcazar de Ubeda

Alcazaba Walls, Malaga
Alcazaba Walls in Malaga






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