On the left bank of the Cardener river in Súria, Catalonia, stands the Torre de Salipota. Originally built in the 9th or 10th century in border areas, this round watchtower was constructed with stone, rocks, and mortar to ensure consistency. The exterior is notably damaged at the bottom, particularly at the door, where a whole row of the outermost stones is missing.
The construction system is based on the arrangement of stones in a circle forming successive layers to give width to the wall. The floor plan is circular and the exterior is smooth and without openings, except for a window at the top that faces the river. The walls are approximately 90 cm thick.
Inside, there are two floors separated by a semi-vault with a central òcul. By the middle of the 19th century, this tower was part of the military optical telegraph line between Barcelona, Manresa, and Solsona. While it once featured merlons at the highest point, none remain today.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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