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Castro (Hillfort) of Penatallada
Atop a ridge, at 862 metres above sea level, right where the River Burbia meets one of its tributaries, stands the enigmatic Penatallada Hillfort. Today, this ancient settlement remains hidden under the local vegetation, unrestored, giving it a mysterious and wild atmosphere.
From a distance, it can be identified by a dome-shaped silhouette in the vegetation cover, just before the steep slope leading down to the valley. Upon approaching, large boulders can be seen protruding from the vegetation between the bushes and trees, which on closer inspection reveal that they are part of the structure.
Although the exact date is uncertain, other hillforts in the area have been dated to the Roman period and are related to the gold mining on these slopes. In fact, multiple gold mining sites remain on the opposite side of the river, the nearest being less than 2 kilometres away as the crow flies. However, it is possible that Penatallada is even older, as it could belong to the Iron Age, or even that it was still inhabited during the Late Roman period.
The area of the enclosure is small, suggesting that it may have contained only a few buildings. Furthermore, the rocky terrain makes occupation difficult, which indicates that the settlement may have served a more strategic or defensive function than as a permanent residence. The castro has an oval shape that adapts to the ridge on which it is built. To the north is a moat carved into the rock, on the only flank that is not protected by the incline of the hillside.