Torre Plácida

Torre Plácida is a 16th-century defensive tower in Alicante, one of the last remaining witnesses to the fortification network that once protected the farmland surrounding the city.

What is this place?

Standing roughly 12 metres tall, the tower belongs to the group known as the Torres de la Huerta — a scattered network of watchtowers built across what used to be the cultivated farmland on the outskirts of Alicante. The whole group is protected as a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC), underlining how much historical value these structures still hold for the city's identity. The tower's name is thought to come from Plácida Mingot, a woman connected to one of the wealthy landowning families of La Condomina around the 17th century.

For generations, towers like this one gave farming families in the area a lookout point and a place of refuge against threats coming from the coast or across the open, sparsely populated fields. Today the setting could not be more different: the farmland has given way to modern housing blocks on every side.

How do you get there?

The tower stands on Calle Clara Campoamor, just south of another historic structure, Torre del Bosch. It is now boxed in by three recently built residential complexes — a striking illustration of how this part of Alicante shifted from rural outskirts to dense urban neighbourhood.

What should you know before visiting?

The tower is currently closed to the public. There are no scheduled tours, and access to the plot around the structure is restricted. For now, Torre Plácida is best experienced as a viewpoint from the street, of interest mainly to those curious about local history and the defensive architecture once common across the Valencia region.

In 2024, Alicante's city council approved a relocation project for the tower, budgeted at 1.76 million euros. The plan aims to preserve the monument without forcing the demolition of the neighbouring housing that would otherwise conflict with its current position. It is an unusual case of a city choosing to physically move a historic structure rather than let it be destroyed or left stranded amid new construction.

When should you go?

Since the interior isn't open to visitors, there's no real high season tied to a guided visit. If you want to see it from outside, aim for a time of day with good light — early morning or late afternoon work well for photographing the contrast between the old tower and the modern buildings around it. It's also worth keeping an eye on the relocation project, since the tower's position — and how accessible it is to visitors — may well change in the coming years.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Torre Plácida? No, the tower is not currently open to the public. It can only be viewed from the outside.

Where does the tower's name come from? Most likely from Plácida Mingot, a woman linked to one of the prominent landowning families of La Condomina in the 17th century.

Why is the tower being relocated? To avoid demolishing nearby residential buildings while still preserving the historic structure, the city opted to physically move it rather than tear it down.

What are the Torres de la Huerta? A network of historic watchtowers built across the farmland that once surrounded Alicante, of which Torre Plácida is one. The whole group is protected as a cultural heritage site.