The so-called ‘Papabellotas Clock ’ is located in the keep of the Alcazaba of Antequera, Malaga. The tower, built in the 14th century during the Nasrid domination, is the most imposing structure in the Alcazaba and served as a military residence and strategic watchtower over the Antequera plain. In 1582, after the Christian conquest, a bell clock was installed to mark the hours for the local residents. Over time, the figure that gives the clock its popular name, the ‘Papabellotas’, was added: an automaton in the shape of a man striking the bell with a hammer, reminiscent of the famous ‘Papamoscas’ of Burgos Cathedral but with a local, robust and popular appearance.
This automaton, which opens and closes its mouth to strike the hours, became an endearing symbol of Antequera. From its tower, the Papabellotas marked the daily life of the city with its chime, visible from all over the plain. Today, both the clock and the keep can be visited and form part of the historical attraction of the Alcazaba, showing the fusion of Muslim and Christian elements in a single monument.
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