Little is left to see of the great castle which once stood at the heart of Estepona, and what remains is not now readily apparent, but it is possible to trace the ruins.
Constructed after the town's capture in 1457 by Enrique IV, the castle played a crucial role in defending against pirate raids, particularly by Arabs, mainly Berbers. Despite its strategic importance, much of the castle has disappeared over time, with only traces of its ruins discernible on the elevated terrain.
Adjacent to the market lies Plaza Casa Cañada, featuring a small garden beneath the castle walls, providing a tranquil spot for visitors to relax amidst flowers or sip from the fountain. One corner of the rectangular castle was here, another near the old town hall and another in Plaza de la Reloj. It occupied this high ground then with a view to the sea and all around.
The remaining part of the castle that can be seen today is the western half of an additional double V-shaped defensive wall added to the original rectangular castle in the 16th century. This fortification, reinforced to accommodate sea-facing cannons, housed soldiers' barracks and stores between the walls. After the rear wall supporting the cannons collapsed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, it was rebuilt with increased strength. Despite the expansion of the town beyond the original walls, the land within was sold, and the stones from the walls were pilfered for construction.
Houses once backed onto the castle walls, and as the space between the double walls was filled with rubble, the tops were transformed into back gardens. These houses were demolished in 2014, and the rubble was cleared. There are plans to open the interior of the remaining double bulwark castle walls to visitors in 2022.
Visitors can explore the remaining castle walls by walking along a path in semi-tropical gardens between the market and the castle wall, descending steps into Calle Castillo to view the other side of the fortification. The 'front' wall of the castle is now visible from Calle Castillo, as several townhouses built in front of it were demolished in 2014. This section of the wall exhibits Moorish features at the lower part, while the upper part likely dates back to the 16th century.
