Torre Sarrió

Torre Sarrió is a historic defensive tower in Alicante, listed as a cultural property of the Valencian Community.

The tower stands in the San Juan district, between Albufereta beach and the Tossal de Manises hill, an Iberian-Roman settlement site. It was one of a dozen or so watchtowers scattered across the Huerta of Alicante between the 15th and 17th centuries, built to warn farming communities of raids by Barbary pirates sailing over from North Africa. Chained together across the plain, these towers relayed alarm signals inland the moment hostile sails appeared on the horizon, giving locals precious time to seek shelter.

How do you get there?

Torre Sarrió sits within the grounds of a former country estate (masía) that it's still attached to. The easiest way in is by car or taxi from central Alicante — the drive to the Albufereta/San Juan area takes about fifteen minutes. The TRAM Metropolitano d'Alacant toward San Juan is a workable public-transport alternative, followed by a short walk. Since the tower is close to the coast, it pairs naturally with a beach day at Albufereta.

What will you see?

The tower is a tall, square-plan prism with slightly sloped façades — a common structural trick of the period that added stability. It rises through four levels: a ground floor plus three upper storeys, lit by lintelled windows, and it lacks a proper crowning cornice. Entry was set at first-floor height on the east face, reached only through the adjoining house — a deliberate defensive quirk meant to slow down any attacker who got that far. At the base, an inscription still records the construction date, 1594, and the name of the man who commissioned it, Pere Llopis.

After decades of neglect and fire damage, the tower was restored starting in 2010 under architect Màrius Bevià, with rehabilitation work carried out in phases through 2021. In July 2026 it opened to the public as the Interpretation Centre for the Towers of the Alicante Huerta, a joint initiative of Alicante City Council, the Provincial Council, and the MARQ archaeological museum, partly funded through Next Generation recovery funds and regional tourism-sustainability programmes. The exhibition inside walks visitors through the region's coastal defence network and daily life in the Huerta during the era of pirate raids.

When should you visit?

Because the interpretation centre only just opened, the city council is still finalising a fixed visiting schedule — for now, visits run on request, and licensed local guide agencies also offer guided tours of the tower. It's worth checking current availability with the council or the centre's website before setting out. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for exploring the area on foot, with pleasant temperatures for walking between the tower and the nearby beach.

Torre Sarrió is a modest but rewarding stop for anyone curious about the coastal defence history of the Costa Blanca — a close-up look at how everyday protection against pirate raids actually worked on the outskirts of what is now a much larger Alicante.

Frequently asked questions

What is Torre Sarrió? A 16th-century defensive tower, part of the watchtower network that protected the Huerta of Alicante from Barbary pirate raids, now converted into a historical interpretation centre.

When was the tower built? It was built in 1594 by Pere Llopis, whose name and the construction date are still carved into the stone base.

Can you visit the tower? Yes — since July 2026 it has operated as an interpretation centre, though the city council is still setting fixed opening hours; visits currently run on request or through guided tours.

Where is Torre Sarrió located relative to central Alicante? In the San Juan district, between Albufereta beach and the Tossal de Manises hill, about a fifteen-minute drive from the city centre.