Torre del Llano

Torre del Llano is a historic coastal watchtower standing on the shoreline of the municipality of Motril, in the province of Granada, on Spain's Costa Tropical. Also known as Farillo de Calahonda, it rises on the Punta de Carchuna headland, between Carchuna and Calahonda beaches, right above the Mediterranean shore.

When was the tower built?

Records date its construction to 1575, crediting the mason Juan Alonso with the work. It formed part of a chain of watchtowers built along the coast of the former Kingdom of Granada to warn of raids by Barbary corsairs and pirates. Torre del Llano kept visual contact with the nearby Carchuna Castle and with the Zambullón Tower in the neighbouring municipality of Gualchos, together forming an early-warning network along the shoreline.

What was the tower used for?

Its garrison kept watch over the sea and guarded the anchorage at Calahonda, an important loading point on this stretch of coast at the time. Two cannons were mounted on the tower, and it was staffed by watchmen and infantry soldiers who could raise smoke or fire signals to alert nearby settlements whenever a threat appeared offshore.

How did its role change in the 19th and 20th centuries?

In 1863, as the port of Calahonda grew busier, the tower was fitted with a light and began operating as a lighthouse, guiding vessels toward the harbour. The light stayed in service for decades until a storm badly damaged the structure in 1936. When the Spanish Civil War broke out shortly afterward, the tower stood within a combat zone, and plans to dismantle the wrecked lighthouse fixture were halted.

What remains to see today?

Torre del Llano survives today as a ruin, visibly leaning and partly sunk into the ground. Despite its poor condition, it remains a recognisable landmark on this part of the coast and a stop along the seafront path connecting Carchuna and Calahonda. From around the tower, walkers get open views of the sea and the neighbouring beaches, which keeps the spot popular with people strolling the shore.

How do you get to Torre del Llano?

The tower sits within the municipality of Motril, on the coast between Carchuna and Calahonda, in the eastern part of the Costa Tropical. The easiest way to reach it is on foot or by bicycle along the seafront promenade linking the two villages, a route that follows the shoreline without heading inland. The surrounding area stays quiet and largely free of crowds, unlike busier stretches of the Costa Tropical.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other names does Torre del Llano go by? Locally it is also called Farillo de Calahonda, or simply El Farillo, a name recalling its later use as a lighthouse.

When was the tower constructed? Historical sources point to 1575, with the work attributed to the mason Juan Alonso.

Did the tower ever function as a lighthouse? Yes, from 1863 onward, after a light was added to guide ships into the port of Calahonda.

Can visitors go inside the tower? No, the structure is a ruin in poor condition, leaning and partly sunken, so it can only be viewed from the outside.