Route 3: Watchtowers against Pirates The coastline always needed a defensive system against the constant assaults and incursions of pirates and attackers. Arabs built the first beacon towers on strategic coastal locations. After, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, “General Captain of the Ocean Sea and Andalusian Coasts” orders to build several towers that not only had a look-out function, but enabled to sight tuna. He enjoyed sole exclusivity of almadraba fishery (Almadraba: tuna caught by an elaborate and age-old Andalusian technique using a circle of boats and nets). The itinerary starts in north Conil, just where the border with Chiclana is. We will find there the Torre del Puerco) (Puerco Tower>. The next spot on the route is the Faro de Roche) (Roche Lighthouse), former Roche Tower. It had a good location to dominate the coastline from Sancti Petri to Trafalgar and the almadraba de Conil. To reach the following location we must arrive in Conil and go near the mouth of the río Saldo (salted river). The Castilonovo Tower is located 100 meters from the sea, in a virgin meadow where, apart from the tower, it should be highlighted the marcación de almadraba (the marked place where the almadraba took place) conserved near the tower. This tower had a double function, since apart of being a watchtower it was also used to watch the almadraba de tiro, which was carried out on this seaside area. Our next destination is located at the seaside district of El Palmar de Vejer. Along the coastal line we find the Torre de la Atalaya) (Atalaya watchtower), Torre de la Marina (Marina Tower) or Torre Nueva (Nueva Tower). The Trafalgar Lighthouse, located on the site of Los Caños de Meca is our next stop. Near the Lighthouse we find the rests of the torre de la Meca (Meca Tower), destroyed in 1860 partly due to the construction of the lighthouse. The following spot of the itinerary is located at the kilometer marker 19 of the route A-2233 which goes through the Pinar de la Breña (Breña’s pine forest), where a path will lead us towards the Torre del Tajo (Tajo Tower) We will do our next stop at the Cabo de Gracia (Grace’s Cape), where the Torre-Faro Camarinal (Camarinal Tower- Lighthouse) is risen. The following spot of this route leads us to the only Muslin tower to be conserved along the littoral, the Torre de la Peña (Crag’s Tower) or the Roca del Ciervo (Deer’s Rock). Located at the kilometer 78 marker of the route N-340, this is the sole tower built on the Andalusian coasts over a rock, following the Islamic style of the “hibns”, or little fortresses rising on the rocky outcrops. Next we make our way towards Tarifa to contemplate the Torre de la Isla de las Palomas (Isle of Las Palomas Tower), which was originally a beacon tower, becoming the first lighthouse at the
Strait of Gibraltar in 1813. The last spot of our itinerary is located on the eastern side of Tarifa, near the mouth of the Guadalmesí River. On a mound close to the sea we find the Torre de Guadalmesí (Guadalmesi Tower). OBSERVATIONS: This route can be fully or partially carried out, if according to our necessities, we choose the closest towers to our location or those with easiest access. During the independence war, the battle of chiclana took place in the dubbed place cerro de la cabeza del puerco (pig’s head hill) in the beginning of the 19th century, involving the defat of the french troops against the anglo-spanish coalition. The towers were ordered to be built by the King Felipe II featuring a cylindrical reinforced shape, which is only reachable through a door-window and it only has one interior vaulted room. It is laid down on a spectacular spot since it is perched on a step rock with wonderful views of the coastline. Along the coastline a number of crew members after the battle between the British and the FrenchSpanish Armadas in 1805 come to be helped regardless of nationality or flag, at theBattle of Trafalgar. This is the only tower which is preserved on the littoral area with entrances at the floor level, being different from the common doorwindow at few meters high which similar towers are equipped with to allow its defense. The difficult access (85 steps on a 25 meters slope) made useless such a defensive system. The famous Battle of El Salado took place near this area in 1340 known today by the Valle del Santuario (Sanctuary Valley) where the allied troops of Castile and Portugal faced and defeated the Granada and Morocco king’s Moslem troops. The tower was mainly aimed at preventing the enemy ships from getting sweetwater supply of the river. Due to its dimensions, near 17 meters high and a diameter of 10 meters of flat roof, which enabled the installation of some artillery gear, and due to its location, at the edge of the peninsula dominating the Strait of Gibraltar, this tower can be deduced to be more powerful than other littoral beacon towers. IT IS ADVISABLE TO REMEMBER: The most outstanding characteristic to identify if a tower had been ordered to be built either by the King or by the Duke is the plant: the King used to order circle ones and the Duke square ones with little variations, like the Arabic towers. The beacon towers had an alarm system to alert seaside population and adjacent towers to danger. When enemy vessels were made out fire or smoke were lit on the roof depending if it was dark or light. FACT SHEET: Start: Torre de Guadalmesí, Tarifa (Guadalmesi Tower)
End: Torre del Puerco, Conil (Puerco Tower) Distance: 114,4 km Locations: Torre del Puerco (Puerco Tower) Torre-Faro de Roche (Roche Tower-Lighthouse) Torre de Castilnovo (Castilnovo Tower) Torre Atalaya o Marina de Vejer (Atalaya or Marina Tower in Vejer) Torre y Faro de Trafalgar (Trafalgar Tower and Lighthouse) Torre del Tajo (Tajo Tower) Torre-Faro Camarinal (Camarinal Tower-Lighthouse) Torre de la Peña (Peña Tower) Torre-Faro de la Isla de las Palomas (Las Palomas Isle Tower-Lighthouse) Torre de Guadalmesí (Guadalmesi Tower) Puede consultar el mapa de Google Maps en: http://www.visitatrafalgar.com/en/historicojanda/rutas-historicas/route-3-watchtowers-against-pirate s
A. Puerco Tower Cylindrical and defensive tower so built by the King and which historically marked the dividing line between Conil and Chiclana.
B. Roche Tower Beacon tower which was built in the 14th Century and later on was remodelled into lighthouse for navigation.
C. Castilnovo Tower It was ordered to be built by the Duke of Duque de Medina Sidonia 2 km south from town.
D. Trafalgar Tower This tower was built by the duke of Medina Sidonia to protect his powerful fishery within the area.
E. Tajo Tower Beacon tower located on the edge of the Breña y Marismas de Barbate Natural Park.
F. Camarinal Lighthouse Tower Beacon tower located at Cabo de Gracia (Gracias cape) to the North of Bolonia Inlet.
G. Isla de las Palomas Tower-Lighthouse Tower-lighthouse built over the former beacon tower from the 16th century. It was ordered to be built by Felipe II.
H. Guadalmesi Tower With the objective of preventing enemy vessels from sweet water supply at the Guadalmesí river.
Indicaciones De "Puerco Tower" a "Roche Tower" 1. Dirígete hacia el este hacia Calle de la Barrosa
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Gira a la derecha hacia Calle de la Barrosa Continúa por Av. España. Continúa por Av. Europa. En la rotonda, toma la primera salida en dirección CA-4202 Ha llegado a su destino
De "Roche Tower" a "Castilnovo Tower" 1. Dirígete hacia el nordeste por CA-4202 2. En la rotonda, toma la primera salida en dirección Carr. del Pradillo/CA-3208 Pasa 2 rotondas 3. En la rotonda, toma la cuarta salida en dirección Av. de la Música Pasa 2 rotondas 4. En la rotonda, continúa recto por Av. Cañada Honda 5. En la rotonda, toma la segunda salida y continúa por Av. Cañada Honda 6. En la rotonda, toma la primera salida en dirección Calle la Peñita/A-2233 7. En Calle Góngora, toma la segunda salida hacia A-2233/CA-2144 8. Ha llegado a su destino
De "Castilnovo Tower" a "Trafalgar Tower" 1. Dirígete hacia el sur en A-2233/CA-2144 hacia Camino de Marcucaña Continúa hacia A-2233 2. En la rotonda, toma la segunda salida en dirección A-2233/CA-215 Continúa hacia A-2233 3. Gira a la derecha hacia Pago los Caños de Meca 4. Ha llegado a su destino
De "Trafalgar Tower" a "Tajo Tower" 1. 2. 3. 4.
Dirígete hacia el sureste hacia Pago los Caños de Meca Continúa por Pago los Caños de Meca. Gira a la derecha hacia A-2233 Ha llegado a su destino
De "Tajo Tower" a "Camarinal Lighthouse Tower" 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Dirígete hacia el sureste en A-2233 hacia Av. de la Mar En la rotonda, toma la segunda salida y continúa por A-2233 En la rotonda, toma la segunda salida en dirección Av. Juan XXIII En la rotonda, toma la primera salida en dirección Av. Juan XXIII/A-2231 Continúa hacia A-2231 En la rotonda, continúa recto por A-2227 Gira a la derecha hacia N-340/E-5 (indicaciones para Tarifa/Algeciras/Málaga) Gira a la derecha hacia CA-8202 (indicaciones para Bolonia) Mantente a la izquierda. Gira a la izquierda. El destino está a la izquierda.
De "Camarinal Lighthouse Tower" a "Isla de las Palomas Tower-Lighthouse"
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Dirígete hacia el este Gira a la derecha Continúa por CA-8202. Gira a la derecha hacia N-340/E-5 (indicaciones para Tarifa/Algeciras/Málaga) Gira a la derecha hacia Ctra. Cádiz-Málaga (indicaciones para N-340a/Tarifa/Puerto) Pasa una rotonda Continúa por Calle Amador de los Rios. Continúa por Av. Andalucía. Continúa por Av. Fuerza Armadas. Gira a la derecha hacia Calle Alcalde Juan Carretera de uso parcialmente restringido Ha llegado a su destino
De "Isla de las Palomas Tower-Lighthouse" a "Guadalmesi Tower" 1. 2. 3. 4.
Dirígete hacia el norte hacia Glorieta de Leon Carretera de uso parcialmente restringido Continúa por Glorieta de Leon. Gira a la derecha hacia Av. Fuerza Armadas Toma el ferry Tanger, Maroc - Tarifa, Espagne/Tarifa, Espagne - Tanger, Maroc. Carretera con peajes 5. Toma el ferry Barcelona, ES - Tánger, MA/Tánger, MA - Barcelona, ES. Carretera con peajes 6. Ha llegado a su destino
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