The Fallen Sentry of the Past: Torre de Salipota

On the left bank of the Cardinier river in Súria, Catalonia, Spain, stands the Torre de Salipota. Originally built in the 9th or 10th century in border areas with the Moors, this round-shaped watchtower with a bilby capstan served as an ideal defense post, nestled high on the riverbank. Over the centuries, time has taken its toll, leaving the tower in grief-stricken ruins.

The lower part of the tower is noticeably damaged, particularly the entrance, where a full row of bricks is missing. Constructed with a circular pattern of arranged stones in successive layers, the tower's walls are about 90 cm thick. The interior features two floors separated by a semi-vault with a central òcul.

Originally part of the military optical telegraph line from Barcelona to Manresa to Solsona, the upper part of the tower has lost much of its medieval features. Today, the tower stands still, its once ancient machinery seemingly holding its breath.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons