The Torre de La Mata is a coastal watchtower built on a beach in the municipality of Torrevieja, in the Valencian Community of Spain. It is located next to the Plaza del Embarcadero in the urban center of the pedanía of La Mata, near a channel that provides salt water to the nearby lagoons.
The tower has a circular, tricone-conical floor plan with a diameter of about five meters and is constructed from masonry. It was built again over old remains in the 16th century and was reconstructed by the military engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli. One of its last major repairs took place in 1982.
The tower's purpose was defensive, and it is believed to have been part of a fortification at the entrance to a pier used for loading salt and other products. In 1787, the military engineer Pedro de Navas noted that it possessed a bronze cannon. It was part of a network of defensive towers and watchtowers designed to protect the coast against Berber pirates.
The tower was declared a site of cultural interest in 1995. It remains a prominent piece of historical architecture in the local landscape, standing as a testament to the region's maritime history and the importance of the salt trade.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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