This archeological site, which is 3 kilometres away from the Mediterranean Sea, is placed in Mont dels Estanys (110 metres high). It is believed this was the place where the Romans set their strategic base of operations when they arrived in Spain to take command of Sagunto and to counter thereby the Carthaginians’ expansion into Spain.
Although there is still an ongoing historical debate concerning the exact role of this hill as a strategic position, it is known that the Romans used it to control the Vía Augusta and coastal areas. Ever since then several military constructions and buildings designed for defense in warfare have been established as a ring of defense on the hill. As a matter of fact, there are still remains of the buildings erected during the Civil War (1936-1939).
One of those rings of defense was probably established by El Cid, who is believed to have occupied this post during the siege of Almenara. Its facilities, set up for defensive operations, are still visible at present: the perimeter of the enclosure, which has a trapezoidal base and is surrounded by a wall consisting of 18 towers, measures 1,262 metres.
Siege operations began early in 1098, when El Cid had already taken control of Valencia. The decision to offer siege of this site was made when the Almoravid governor of Xàtiva, who was fleeing from El Cid, retired with his garrison into the castle. After a siege of three months, the Almoravid troops surrended and El Cid took Almenara.
Rev. PAB 26.12.18