Torre del Perdigal overlooks the Mediterranean coast

On the shores of Playa Perdigal, a short stone’s throw from the waves, lies Atalaya del Perdigal - a tower with a debated history. While some sources date the structure to the 16th century, others suggest it was built during the time of al-Ándalus, making it the oldest of the towers in the maritime defense network built to protect the coast of Almeria.

Regardless of the exact century of its construction, this tower stands in a striking location at the deepest point of the waters off Almeria. The wind off the Mediterranean ripples through the air around it, where it stands near a forest of tarajes.

The tower is in good condition, although it has been transformed. It is protected by the Declaración genérica del Decreto de 22 de abril de 1949, the ley 16/1985 sobre el Patrimonio Histórico Español, and is a Bien de interés cultural included in el Catálogo General del Patrimonio Histórico Andaluz. The Junta de Andalucía granted a special recognition to the castles of the community in 1993. The tower bears the name of the beach on which it sits, and lies among a grove of tarajes.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons