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Condition: Only a part of the wall and two towers are preserved. Still, after completion of the procedures, as provided in Article 14.2 of Law 16/1985, of June 25, Spanish Historical Heritage, came into order the declaration as cultural interest of that sector of the village of Zufre in Huelva, in the category of historic collection, as well as in accordance with the provisions of the first additional provision of the legal text referred to, in conjunction with Article 8 of the Regulations on Protection and Promotion of Historical Heritage of Andalusia. Actual use: In its present condition the castle is virtually nonexistent, so it can not serve for anything else than the pure contemplation of the precious collection of historic buildings that surround it and that was originated by the fortress itself. Architectural sheet:
With regard to the preservation of the Castle, very little was kept due to the neglect and abandonment it suffered after the confiscation of Mendizábal, and the ravages it suffered during the War of Independence against the French. Besides its typical mountain town plan, Zufre has a monumental artistic heritage. Which includes the Torre de las Harinas (Flour Tower). It is a solid defensive tower which dominates the ancient Almohad city wall (XII century). For its construction typology in adobe and quadrangular floorplan it seems to have been constructed on a previous one, somewhere between the 13th and 14th century. The wall ended up having a perimeter greater than 1500 meters. However, today only two stretches are conserved of about 300 meters in length, that in the eighteenth century were converted into village lookouts where the people came to look out over the valley.
Historical sheet: Since ancient times, this territory was a source from which different cultures have drunk. Remains have been found belonging to the Neolithic and in the Bronze Age, II millennium BC., a settlement was principally engaged in agriculture and cattle. The mining activity is very prolific in the entire area of the Sierra. In Zufre in particular, from 1200 BC. it develops significantly due to the improvements in communications, and therefore of the trade. Thanks to the fact that in the vicinity of this town discoveries of several elements of the Roman era were made, such as the capitals of the church, two late-roman capitals, preserved as pilars of holy water, we can affirm the existence of a village belonging to this period. Also, we can highlight the discovery of a Visigothic capital retained in the hermitage of Santa Zita. The eighth century sees the arrival of Muslims. Because of its importance as a gateway to the city of Seville coming from the Sierra and Portugal, a fortress was built on higher ground, with a thick wall and towers. This 'nest of eagles', from which the valley of the Rivera de Uerba is dominated , would be one of the key defense and settlement centres of the Sierra in this era.
During the twelfth century, the Almohads make their appearance in the city of Zufre. This period is known due to the remains of its walls, for the origin of the place name Sufre (or Xufre) word for tribute and for the Torre de las Harinas (Flour Tower), solid defensive tower of about 12 m. height, which is one of the few remnants of the old Almohad wall. Fighting against Portugal, in the beginning of the thirteenth century we come across the Muslim leader Abenmafol, who was strong in these lands between the years 1230 to 1233, having occupied Aracena and reaching Higuera. On the other hand, Castilla wanted to have control of the area to prevent the Portuguese militias to dangerously approach the city of Seville. With a dual purpose, to break Muslim power and to curb the expansion of the Portuguese the Castilian King Fernando III the Saint intervened in 1246, delegating his powers to his lieutenant Pelay Correa. In the battle of Tentudía the Muslim armies were defeated, thus conquering Baja (Lower) Extremadura and these mountains. Grateful for the victory over 'the unfaithful', Pelayo Correa founded the church of Nuestra Señora del Puerto, current patron of the zufreños. In her honor, nowadays two pilgrimages are held: the first, the last Sunday of May, with the relocation of the virgin to the town, the second, fifteen days later, when the sacred image is returned to the shrine by the pilgrims. Alfonso X in the thirteenth century, on December 6 of 1253, granted all the conquered lands east of the Guadiana to the council of Seville, including those of Zufre, as well as granting it the privilege of small town; his son Sancho IV later would also confirm such privileges. Alfonso X, on his turn, rebuilds the Castle to join the already mentioned Banda Gallega. However, the Castle of Zufre does not become part of the renowned Banda, leaving it as the place of supply for troops and supplies. This defensive complex main function was to protect the city of Seville against the Portuguese. In the same period begins the Castilian-Leonese repopulation. The Mudéjar uprising of 1264 led to expelling them, creating the need for a new settlement, what would be the case with several of the towns included in the route. In this way, in 1291, Sancho IV sends people to these lands, from Galicia and León. As quoted by Moya Recio, from their roots are kept galleguisms as 'La Almuña' from 'almuiña', farm or orchard of fruit trees, 'Moncejón' from 'moncexón' to designate the site where the harvest is riped. From Leon origin we have 'the Cortecillas', from 'court', heart of a farming operation that comprised several houses. About something that happened during the 14th century some documents were found, dated between the years 1386 and 1387, from which we learn that an investment was made of 2517 maravedíes in lime, brick and payment of the necessary works to strengthen the bulwark. The reasons were for the consolidation of Zufre as a small town, and to protect themselves from robbery and plunder of the frequent incursions of the Portuguese. The scattered population of the fields settles along the walls of the principal center and its impregnable fortress, seeking security for lifes and farms. In the time period corresponding to the fifteenth century, the most notable was the local conflict with Aracena and Higuera over the exploitation of land and meadow, the base of the economy. Therefore, they resort to the council of Seville 'lacking resources to plea, we turn to Seville and its council, begging submissively to be looked at, their poor neighbors with the usual piety'. The 16th century was without doubt one of the most flourishing periods of the town coinciding with the reign of Philip II. However, the 17th Century, was a period of decline, as the confluence of epidemics, famine, bad harvests and war with Portugal, brought a decline in population and production, that was gradually recovered during 18th century. However, it was not until the nineteenth century, that there were several ill-fated circumstances for the municipal life, such as the War of Independence in the years 1808-13 and the sale of church lands. The latter, the sale of lands belonging to the church by Mendizábal in 1835, caused the abandonment of property, and therefore their decline and the reason that it has reached us in a somewhat precarious state of conservation. The early years of the twentieth century are advantageous when, again led by the mining activity, that resulted in an active rail line from 1905 to 1959, achieved a great development of this sector The rail road and the road to Seville, built between 1930 and 1933, broke with the traditional isolation of this mountain community, along with the improvement of economic activities. After those years of prosperity, depopulation and neglect hit hard on this area. The mining crisis led to the emigration of many locals, although since the fifties, this emigration is declining. Arts and Culture:
Cultural Events:
Festive events start with the Holy Week, then in August, the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of the Port, continuing with the September festival, with bullfighting events, bonfire parties and butter toast. Ending in December with the Olive oil Fair. |
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The streets of the old town are narrow and intricate, characteristic of the typical Islamic city. This organization of town-planning has a dual-purpose, sun protection and as a defense of a military nature. The labyrinthine structure created caused that the enemy got lost and separated when entering the village. Pedestrian streets, which still preserve traditional pavements. The city at the beginning was concentric around the Castle, whilst later to grow outside of its walls. 
The Roman road Esari Pax Luli, in the first century AD, linked Hispalis with Emerita, and crossed the lands of Zufre, near to the border of the Uerba. This brought a commercial and industrial development, which was reflected in the increased geographic index. After the fall of the Roman civilization in the 5th century, we find ourselves in a dark and unknown period.
Handicraft work is very similar to those of other mountain populations, as there are works of baskets, cork, wicker and wood.