In 1786, engineer Ramón Santander began constructing the Torre de Alcafar in San Luis, Menorca, on the southeastern coastal plain to safeguard against Argeline pirates. The tower, shaped like a robust cylinder with a conical roof, was made from typical Baleares stone, with large stone blocks covering its exterior. The sea-facing walls were reinforced to withstand cannon fire. Three levels of the tower are visible from the exterior, with the entrance originally via a door to the middle level.
The tower's design convinced others to build more coastal towers on the island, and Martello towers were built in style starting in 1804. The tower originally had a ground floor divided into three chambers for ammunition, powder, and provisions, with soldiers' quarters on the middle level. A spiral staircase connected the middle level to the upper platform, which housed the cannons.
The Torre de Alcafar was extensively restored in 1994 and is no longer in use. Since 1985, it has been declared a historical monument and is registered with the Ministry of Culture of Spain.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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