In Spain, the history of minarets (historically called alminares) is divided into two distinct eras: the medieval Islamic period (711–1492) and the modern era (late 20th century to present)..

 In Spain, the history of minarets (historically called alminares) is divided into two distinct eras: the medieval Islamic period (711–1492) and the modern era (late 20th century to present).

1. Historical Minarets (Medieval Period)

There are roughly 10 to 15 surviving historical minarets that are still recognizable today. Most were converted into church bell towers (campanarios) after the Reconquista, which is why they still stand.

| Name | Location | Construction Date | Purpose/History |

|---|---|---|---|

| The Giralda | Seville | 1172–1182 | Built by the Almohads as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Seville. Its design influenced towers across the Maghreb. |

| San Juan Minaret | Córdoba | 9th–10th Century | One of the oldest surviving in Spain; it belonged to a small neighborhood mosque and is now part of a church. |

| Alminar de San José | Granada | 11th Century | A classic Zirid-period tower. It remains largely in its original form despite the mosque being replaced by a church. |

| The Tower of San Salvador | Teruel | 14th Century | A Mudéjar-style tower. While built under Christian rule, it follows the functional and aesthetic design of a minaret. |

Why they were built:

 * Call to Prayer (Adhan): The primary functional use was to provide a high vantage point for the muezzin to call the faithful to prayer.

 * Symbol of Power: During the Umayyad and Almohad Caliphates, massive minarets like the Giralda were "victory monuments" intended to demonstrate the dominance and sophistication of Islamic rule.

 * Watchtowers: In some frontier cities, they served a secondary military purpose for spotting incoming forces.

2. Modern Minarets

Since the 1980s, the construction of purpose-built mosques with minarets has returned to Spain. There are currently roughly 12 to 15 "Grand Mosques" in Spain that feature traditional minarets, though there are over 1,500 smaller prayer rooms (musallas) that usually do not have them.

| Notable Modern Mosque | Location | Year | Note |

|---|---|---|---|

| King Abdul Aziz Mosque | Marbella | 1981 | One of the first built in modern Spain, funded by Saudi Arabia. |

| Basharat Mosque | Pedro Abad | 1982 | The first purpose-built mosque since the 15th century. |

| M-30 Islamic Center | Madrid | 1992 | Features a prominent 40-meter minaret; it is the largest mosque in Spain. |

| Great Mosque of Granada | Granada | 2003 | Built overlooking the Alhambra to symbolize the return of Islamic tradition to the city. |

Why they are built now:

 * Religious Identity: They serve as a visible landmark for the growing Muslim community in Spain (approx. 2.1 million people).

 * Cultural Diplomacy: Many of the larger mosques were funded by nations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Morocco to establish cultural centers and promote specific schools of Islamic thought.

 * Aesthetic Tradition: In cities like Granada and Córdoba, the minarets are designed in the "Neo-Mudéjar" or "Andalusi" style to harmonize with the city's historical Moorish architecture.

Summary of Numbers

 * Historical (Pre-1492): ~12 (mostly repurposed as bell towers).

 * Modern (Post-1970s): ~15 (as part of major Islamic Cultural Centers).