The town is best known for its remarkably well-preserved castle, the Castillo de la Vela.

The name "Maqueda" comes from the root mkd and the Arabic term Maqqada, which means "stable", "firm", or "solid".

[2] Other experts believe that the name derives from the root kyd and the Arabic term Makîda, which means "strategically located" or "strong plaza".

[4] It was eventually appropriated by the state, which established a Guardia Civil post within the castle and provided for its future conservation.

The castle's protections include 3.5-meter-thick walls, moats on two sides, and a number of circular towers.