Torre Perdigal

Torre Perdigal is a small coastal watchtower on the shoreline of Almería, in the Spanish region of Andalusia, near the settlement of El Alquián, east of the provincial capital.

Where is Torre Perdigal located?

The tower stands on the eastern coastline of Almería, in a stretch of shore once dotted with a dense chain of lookout points. Built on flat, open ground right above the sea, this location was chosen precisely because it allowed watchmen to scan the Mediterranean horizon and warn nearby settlements of approaching danger. Torre Perdigal is one of the surviving examples of this coastal defense network along the Almería shoreline.

What is the history behind the tower?

Records of a watchtower on this exact spot go back further than the building visitors see today. A document from 1501, drawn up on the orders of the Catholic Monarchs, already mentions a "torre del Alquián," also referred to as Perdigal — a structure believed to echo earlier Muslim-era lookout points that predated the Christian reconquest of the region. That original tower did not last, however: accounts written decades later describe the site as essentially abandoned, with nothing left standing.

A new tower for a new threat

The building that stands today was actually raised at the end of the 16th century or the start of the 17th. Its construction was part of a much larger effort to fortify the Spanish coastline against the constant threat of Turkish and Berber corsairs, who repeatedly raided towns and villages along the Andalusian shore. A chain of towers like this one, spaced so each stood within sight of its neighbors, let defenders pass warning signals rapidly inland — smoke by day, fire by night.

What does Torre Perdigal look like?

Torre Perdigal has the characteristic truncated-cone shape typical of watchtowers built along the Almería coast during this period. It rises three storeys to a flat rooftop terrace, the azotea, from which sentries once kept watch over the sea. The original entrance was set at second-floor height, a common defensive feature of these towers: it kept the ground level inaccessible, with entry originally achieved via a retractable ladder that could be pulled up once inside. The walls are built of rubble masonry bound with mortar, a construction that has kept the structure standing centuries after it was raised.

What role did it play during the Spanish Civil War?

The tower took on an unexpected second life long after the age of corsair raids had passed. During the Spanish Civil War, local residents used it as an air-raid shelter during bombing raids carried out by German aircraft supporting Francoist forces against the Almería coast. The thick walls of the old watchtower once again offered protection from danger arriving by sea and from the sky.

Why is it worth a visit?

Torre Perdigal is a modest but genuine piece of Almería's coastal defense history, a witness to several centuries in which this shoreline sat on the front line — first against corsair raids, later against modern warfare. In recognition of its historical value, the tower has been declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category, placing it among Andalusia's officially protected heritage sites. It makes a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the eastern Almería coast with an interest in the region's defensive history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Torre Perdigal? It is a former coastal watchtower in Almería, built in its current form at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries as part of a defense system against Turkish and Berber corsair attacks.

Where exactly is it located? It stands on the eastern coast of Almería, near El Alquián, not far from the provincial capital.

Can visitors go inside the tower? Torre Perdigal is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural and can be viewed from the outside; access to the interior of these old watchtowers is often limited, so it is worth checking current conditions before planning a visit.

What role did the tower play during the Civil War? Local residents used it as an air-raid shelter during German bombing raids on the Almería coast in the Spanish Civil War.