When the Moors invaded the Iberian peninsula in the 8th century, they first selected, settled and fortified choice locations. Of immediate interest was a hill located amid rich arable land a few miles inland on the Arade, a river (then) navigable from the sea. It was there that they established their capital, “Xelb”, and surrounded it with orange and almond trees. They crowned the hill with a castle-fortress to house rulers, administrators and their families, with ... (more)