Castle of the Christian Monarchs in Córdoba

You're standing at the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Castle of the Christian Monarchs. The Guadalquivir River flows right by, and the Mosque-Cathedral is just around the corner. From the outside it looks rather plain: solid walls and four towers that together make an almost perfect square. Have a look at the square Tower of the Lions in the northwest corner. Up at the top you'll spot gargoyles shaped like lions. It's the oldest tower, from the thirteenth century. The round one in the southwest is the Tower of the Inquisition, where the Inquisition kept its archives for centuries.