The ciezano site contains 19 excavated houses of the more than 760 that existed in its time and allows us to know what daily life was like in Al-Andalus due to its good state of conservation.
In the Region of Murcia you can teleport to a 13th century Islamic village in just a few minutes. Barely 5 kilometers from the town of Cieza and on the slopes of Cerro del Castillo is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Andalusian territory. To visit Medina Siyâsa is to take an intercultural journey through time to learn first-hand about the daily life of Al-Andalus, its urban development and the most important decorative elements. If anyone doubts the significance of this unique site, just listen to Joaquín Salmerón’s passion for the site and the Siyâsa museum, of which he is director: “It is the only Andalusian city in southeastern Spain that was not reoccupied by a city later Christian,” he remarks.
That is the reason for its good conservation and, therefore, its importance. «In 1266, the population of Siyâsa was expelled from their houses, being occupied by Aragonese and Castilians until at the end of the 13th century, the city sank in on itself due to the lack of care that the soldiers took of it. Then the inhabitants began to live in the area of the Castle or on the plain, where the historic center of Cieza is located».
Night view of the only Andalusian city in the southeast not concerned with a Christian city. /
Since then, no one has inhabited the city, so time has been able to preserve complete houses and foundations that have not destroyed subsequent towns, as is the case of the Wall of Murcia, of which only remains remain. In this settlement of nearly 4,000 inhabitants “there were more than 760 houses, of which up to 19 have been excavated,” explains Salmerón. In addition, two of them have been reconstructed on a real scale in the Siyâsa Museum, inside Cieza. 50 of the 200 Almohad and Protonazari arches and discovered porches have also been restored, and can be seen in the same rooms. The city, of about ten hectares, was protected by a wall and by the abrupt terrain, which constituted a natural defense.
House number 6 of Medina Siyâsa. /
One of the most curious discoveries is found in the toilets. “Nowadays it may be surprising to note that all the houses had a latrine”, explains Salmerón, “but the truth is that the Christian population of that same time did not have them and they threw excrement out the window into the street shouting ‘Water goes'”. They did not have a sewage system, as was the case in Andalusian cities. In addition, inside the cesspools excavated in Siyâsa, animal bones and seeds such as those of the peach have been found, “which show that the history of this typical Cieza fruit already existed in the 13th century.”
The site can be seen through a guided tour to explore the narrow streets, discover the original structures of the Andalusian city or contemplate the landscape that can be seen from the hill. It also offers the opportunity to visit ‘in situ’ some of the typical ‘central courtyard houses’ of the typical Islamic model. Those interested should contact the tourist company Stipa on the phone number 658 641 101 to arrange a day or night visit.
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