The Alqueria de la Torre dels Pares and its 14th-century watchtower

The Alqueria de la Torre dels Pares is a fortified building located next to the Gandia to Daimús road in the municipality of Gandia. This historic site is surrounded by a large extension of orange trees in the middle of the countryside. While the current construction can be dated to the 14th century, it is likely that the tower was erected on an Almohad structure from the 11th century.

In 1486, the Duke acquired the property from the Balaguer brothers. It later passed into the hands of the Company of Jesus in 1609, becoming part of the heritage of the Jesuit College-University of Gandia. During the 17th century, because Berber pirates frequently attacked Mediterranean coastal populations, the Jesuits constructed a watchtower to protect the property.

The tower stands with a rectangular plan of approximately 5.5 by 6.75 meters and five heights. Its roof is made of flat tiles with four slopes. The upper body features a small molding supporting three windows on the north and south sides with half-point arches, while the east and west sides each have four windows. The remainder of the building underwent significant changes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons