Castell de Sa Punta de n'Amer

Castell de Sa Punta de n'Amer is a 17th-century watchtower standing on the Punta de n'Amer headland, within the municipality of Sant Llorenç des Cardassar on Mallorca's east coast. Locals simply call it "Es Castell," and today it ranks among the area's most recognisable historic landmarks, set inside a stretch of coastline that has largely escaped tourist development.

Where exactly is the tower?

The tower sits on a low rise around 35 metres above sea level, on the headland that separates two well-known beaches, Cala Millor and Sa Coma. The whole peninsula — under 200 hectares — carries protected status as an ANEI (Natural Area of Special Interest) and forms part of the Natura 2000 network, which is why the immediate surroundings have stayed largely free of the dense hotel strip found along Cala Millor itself.

Why was it built?

The tower went up in the 17th century as part of Mallorca's coastal defence network, built to warn against pirate raids that regularly hit the island's shores to steal food and valuables and, at times, kidnap residents. Es Castell didn't stand alone: it kept visual contact with neighbouring watchtowers at Porto Cristo and Cap Roig, forming a relay chain of lookout posts along the coastline. Smoke or fire signals let one tower alert the next the moment danger appeared at sea.

What will you see there?

The design is unusual for a defensive tower of this kind: a cubic base topped by a pyramid-shaped upper section. A moat survives around the base, and a spiral staircase inside leads up to the viewing platform. The jagged, notched edges of the facade weren't decorative — they were meant to make it harder for attackers to scale the walls and reach the platform.

The tower itself is only part of the reason to linger. The headland's vegetation is classic Mediterranean scrubland — juniper and mastic trees growing out of sandy, dune-formed ground. Depending on the season, you can spot seabirds including the Audouin's gull (known locally as gavina corsa) and the cormorant, while the North African hedgehog turns up among the land fauna typical of this stretch of the Mediterranean.

The headland also carries a more recent, far less peaceful chapter: on 16 August 1936, in the opening weeks of the Spanish Civil War, Republican forces landed here as part of a failed attempt to retake Mallorca from Nationalist control.

How do you get there, and when's best to visit?

Marked walking paths connect Cala Millor and Sa Coma and lead straight to the tower — you can walk, cycle, drive, or reach the area by local public transport. The route is easy going, suitable for families and visitors without hiking experience. Spring and autumn give the most comfortable conditions for exploring the headland, with cooler temperatures and the best chances of spotting birdlife and blooming scrubland. In summer, the tower doubles as a natural escape from the crowded beaches nearby — shade from the trees and the sea breeze on the headland offer some relief from the heat.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the tower? Yes, the interior and the upper viewing platform are open to visitors, and the site operates year-round as a combined historical and nature landmark.

How long is the walk from Cala Millor to the tower? It's a short, easy coastal walk — typically a matter of minutes to around half an hour on foot, depending on your starting point along the beach.

Is it worth combining with the surrounding beaches? Yes — since the headland sits directly between Cala Millor and Sa Coma, a walk to the tower pairs naturally with a beach day at either one.

Is the site suitable for children? Yes, the path is gentle and flat, and the combination of the tower itself with the birdlife and dune vegetation tends to hold younger visitors' attention.