Torre de Guadalmansa (Guadalmansa Tower)
• Period: Modern Age
• Construction system: Masonry and header-stretcher ashlar bond at the corners
• Style of architecture: Simple
• Architectural elements: Square, truncated pyramid shape
• Condition: Rebuilt
• History: It is associated with the defence of neighbouring land production.
• Access to the Coastal Path: Yes
• Geolocation: 36º 27’ 5’’ N 5º 3’ 52’’ O
• Surroundings: The tower can be found within the Torre Bermeja complex, sitting in extensive gardens alongside some Roman ruins that belong to the Roman villa of Las Torres. This is an excellent place for cultural activities.
The edge of the coastline is home to a group of watchtowers built in the late 15th and 16th centuries. Of Phoenician-Roman origin, they were restored and enlarged by the Arabs and proved to be of vital importance during the consolidation of the Spanish State, providing protection against the incursions of pirates and constituting an excellent system of defence that survived until the 19th century. The names of the individual towers are Arroyo Vaquero, Baños, Guadalmansa, Saladillo, Salavieja, Padrón and Velerín.
This tower is also known as Torre Desmochada (meaning “Lopped Tower”). It was built during the Muslim period, most likely during the 10th century, and underwent considerable modifications in the 16th century.
With its square floor plan and a total height of 14 m, it is considered to be among the most interesting and beautiful towers on Málaga’s coastline. Its high factory quality, square shape and great height might lead to imagine it as an ancient Roman lighthouse.
Evidence of the 16th-century restorations can be found today in the form of sgraffito above the entrance door. Recent restoration work on the tower has involved prior preparation of the most damaged sections, as well as their conditioning for visits and lighting.
Additional information
Estepona’s 21-km coastline boasts seven watchtowers of Muslim and Castilian origin that now serve as evidence of a defence system that lasted until the 19th century. Following the Castilian conquest, Turkish and North African pirates raided the Andalusian coasts very frequently, capturing villagers to sell into slavery and looting properties. Hence, the people did not want to help repopulate the area. To combat such pirate landings, the Christians set up a defence system consisting of a series of shore-based towers that, when under enemy attack, would give warning by using smoke signals during the day and light signals at night. In Spanish, such kind of tower is called torre almenara, torre atalaya or torre vigía (watchtower). Estepona preserves six towers of Christian origin and one of Muslim origin.
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