Thus, every year the ancient castle becomes the scene of the ill-fated love between Macías and Doña Elvira. The citizens of Arjonilla dress up in medieval clothing and use farm implements from that period to re-enact the misfortune of the two lovers. According to tradition, a young troubadour from the Galician town of Padrón, in the service of the Marquis of Villena, fell madly in love with Doña Elvira, one of the marquise’s ladies in waiting, who was married to a nobleman from a nearby town. The lovers were discovered when they were attempting to flee, and imprisoned in the castle until the spurned husband decided to put an end to the romance by throwing a spear at Marcías, piercing his heart. The fateful story served as inspiration for two great writers of Spanish literature, Lope de Vega and Mariano José de Larra, in Porfiar hasta morir and El doncel de don Enrique el Doliente, respectively.

The original Arab castle of Arjona was discovered during the archaeological excavations. In fact, the work carried out at one end of the bailey in 1988 uncovered the foundations of an important square tower that may have belonged to the original fortification. After the Christian conquest, the Order of Calatrava built a prominent gate-tower in the fortress. According to tradition, the highest chamber in the tower is where Macías the Enamoured was imprisoned and died. Moreover, it was in this period that the chapel of Santa Catalina was built, which in time became the castle’s chapel. It housed the tomb of the young troubadour until the 17th century.

The fortification had seven sides, three of which are still in relatively good condition, and a square tower, known as the Torre Techada (Roofed Tower), where the entrance to the castle is to be found.

In addition to the castle, Arjonilla offers travellers other interesting places to visit that make up part of its heritage of monuments. Such is the case of the Gothic church of La Encarnación, the old brick manors, the Courthouse and Old City Hall in the Mannerist style.