The Tower with a Drawbridge and a Broadcasting Station

Torre Mena commands the Plaça de Trafalgar in Badalona with a profile that evokes a medieval fortress rather than a typical urban structure. Three stories of central architecture rise between two side wings. The roofline is finished with merlons and a central turret that mirror ancient fortifications. A notable balcony held by iron columns defines its exterior character.

We must look beneath the 1880 construction date to discover the site's deeper history. This colonial structure replaced a much older property owned by Pere Jeroni de Mena. That previous estate featured a defensive tower and a drawbridge. It once contained a chapel where a figure was venerated, the same one carried by local reapers during the uprising of 1640.

The surrounding terrain offers a story of gradual transformation. Centuries of vineyards and pine forests gave way to rural fields and eventually a collection of summer houses and self-built homes. At one point, the building even functioned as a broadcasting station for Ràdio Miramar.

Today, the building remains a protected cultural asset for the public. It serves as a community centre for residents. While the garden that once provided a private entrance was lost to the widening of the avenues, the building is a local cultural asset of interest.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons