Torre de la Mesa

Torre de la Mesa is a Nasrid-era watchtower perched on a hillside in the municipality of Íllora, in the province of Granada, a short distance from the village of Puerto Lope. It's one of several old lookout towers scattered across the surrounding hills, and it appeals mainly to travelers with an interest in the medieval Muslim-Christian frontier rather than to anyone chasing a monumental ruin.

Where exactly is the tower?

Torre de la Mesa — also referred to as Atalaya de la Mesa — sits roughly 4 km from the center of Íllora, on the way toward Alcalá la Real, at an elevation of about 926 meters. The closest landmark is the Cortijo de la Cuesta farmhouse, less than 300 meters away. Although the tower falls under Íllora's municipal boundaries, geographically it sits closer to the neighboring village of Puerto Lope.

What was its role during Nasrid times?

The tower belonged to the defensive network protecting Moclín Castle, one of the more significant strongholds of the Emirate of Granada. Its job was to watch over the Puerto Lope pass, the main route linking Alcalá la Real with the Castilian border. From its elevated position, lookouts kept visual contact with other towers in the chain: Mingoandrés and de la Gallina, which shielded Moclín Castle itself, and further off, the tower on Sierra Elvira — the principal watch point guarding the Vega of Granada and the Nasrid capital. Fire and smoke signals let defenders pass a warning quickly along this line whenever an incursion was spotted.

What's left of it today?

What survives is a cylindrical structure with a circular floor plan roughly 5.40 meters in diameter, standing to a preserved height of 5.80 meters. The masonry was laid in irregular courses, mixing smaller stones with larger blocks rather than following a uniform pattern. Small gaps are visible at the base on the south and northeast sides, and vegetation has taken hold along the top of the remaining wall. Almost none of the original exterior plaster remains, so the bare stonework is fully exposed.

Is it worth the detour?

The ruins can be reached on foot as part of a local trail connecting the watchtowers of the Íllora municipality. The site offers a clear view toward Alcalá la Real, which is arguably as much a reason to come as the tower itself, since only a partial structure remains standing. It suits visitors curious about frontier fortifications and the history of the Nasrid-Castilian border more than those looking for a large, intact monument.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Torre de la Mesa? It's the remains of a Nasrid optical watchtower (atalaya) from the Muslim period in Granada, part of the warning-tower network built around Moclín Castle.

How far is it from Íllora? The tower stands about 4 km from Íllora, heading toward Alcalá la Real, close to the village of Puerto Lope and the Cortijo de la Cuesta.

What was the tower originally used for? It monitored the Puerto Lope pass and relayed warning signals between Moclín Castle and the Sierra Elvira tower, which guarded the Vega of Granada.

Can you visit the ruins today? Yes, they're accessible on foot along Íllora's watchtower trail. What remains is mainly a low ring of stone wall under six meters high, with some vegetation growing over it.