14th-Century Surveillance Tower Torre de las Ahumadas

Journey back to the medieval era and delve into the history of Torre de las Ahumadas, a strategic watchtower built by Infante Don Enrique in Quesada, Spain, which controlled the movement of troops and was crucial during the Reconquista.

Torre de las Ahumadas, also known as La Atalaya del Infante Don Enrique or Torre Castellón de Fique, is strategically located at the Puerto de Tíscar, a pass that was important during the Reconquista. Built by Infante Don Enrique between 1299 and 1302, the tower is cylindrical in shape. Its base perimeter is approximately 16.1 meters and it stands at a height of around 10.4 meters. The walls are 1.3 meters thick.

The tower's two escudos above the entrance are still preserved. One shows two towers and two Calatrava crosses, possibly the escudos of Infante Don Enrique. The other seems to be the royal seal of Fernando IV or the seal of Toledo. Remains of the old path leading to the tower offer evidence of its strategic importance during the Middle Ages.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

14th-Century Surveillance Tower Torre de las Ahumadas: A Look Back at the

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