Torre de la Porqueriza

Torre de la Porqueriza is a medieval watchtower in the municipality of Moclín, in the province of Granada, Andalusia. Perched on a limestone rise between the villages of Moclín and Tózar, at roughly 900 metres above sea level, it survives only in part today, yet it still stands as a striking reminder of the old Nasrid frontier.

Where is the tower and how do you reach it?

The site sits beside the road connecting Tózar and Moclín, about 3 km from Moclín itself and 2 km from Tózar. Its position is no accident: the tower occupies a natural high point commanding wide views over the Vega-Sierra Elvira area, which made it an ideal lookout post. A local road leads most of the way, and the final stretch is best covered on foot, making the tower a popular target for short countryside walks that mix history with panoramic views of the Granada hill country.

What was this structure built for?

Torre de la Porqueriza is an atalaya, a watch-and-signal tower raised by the Nasrids in the mid-14th century. It formed part of the defensive network that protected the border of the Emirate of Granada against Castilian forces. Together with four other watchtowers, it controlled access to Moclín Castle, one of the key strongholds along this stretch of the frontier. Sentries stationed here scanned the surrounding land and, when danger appeared, relayed fire or smoke signals to neighbouring towers, forming a communication chain linking the smaller outposts to the main castle.

What does the tower look like today?

The structure has a circular plan slightly over 5 metres in diameter and a cylindrical profile. The lower half was built solid, which gave the tower stability and made it harder to storm. Higher up, from around the fifth metre, there was an internal chamber that could house a small garrison. About 7 metres of the original height still stand; the rest has been lost over the centuries, but the outline and building technique remain easy to read.

What historical traces survive around it?

Archaeologists have recovered arrowheads and abundant surface pottery near the tower, dating from both the Iberian and Hispano-Muslim periods, confirming that the site was occupied and used long before the atalaya itself was built. The tower's story does not stop in the Middle Ages, either. During the Spanish Civil War, in 1938, a defensive position numbered 21 was set up around the structure, and the trenches together with four circular firing emplacements dug into the ground are still visible today. It is an unusual spot where layers of history six centuries apart overlap in the same few square metres.

Why is it worth a visit?

Torre de la Porqueriza brings several things together in one place: a genuine piece of Nasrid-era military architecture, a scenic setting overlooking the Sierra Elvira countryside, and unusual remnants of a 20th-century armed conflict. It also makes a good side trip for visitors exploring Moclín Castle and the surrounding villages of Granada province who are looking for quieter, lesser-known monuments with real history behind them.

Frequently asked questions

When was Torre de la Porqueriza built? The tower was raised in the mid-14th century by the Nasrids as part of the border defence system of the Emirate of Granada.

What was the tower used for? It served as a watch-and-signal tower, an atalaya, scanning the surrounding land and passing warning signals to support the defence of Moclín Castle.

Has the tower survived intact? No — around 7 metres of its original height remain standing today, but the shape and construction technique are still clear enough to picture how the tower originally looked.

What else can be seen around the tower? Nearby you can find the remains of trenches and firing positions from 1938, along with traces of Iberian and Hispano-Muslim settlement in the form of pottery fragments and arrowheads.