Torre de la Malmuerta, Medieval tower in Córdoba, Spain
The Torre de la Malmuerta is an octagonal stone tower standing near Plaza de Colón and connected to the city walls through two semicircular arches with a royal shield set beneath. The structure rises about 43 feet (13 meters) and displays medieval stonework with reinforced openings.
King Henry III of Castile ordered this defensive structure built between 1406 and 1408, using an earlier Almohad foundation as its base. The tower formed part of Córdoba's medieval fortification system and has shaped the area's character for centuries.
The tower's name comes from a legend about a former commander whose unfaithful wife was supposedly executed there. The inscriptions and royal shields beneath the arch display the craftsmanship of early Córdoba's defenses.
The tower stands at the corner of Avenida de las Ollerías and Plaza de Colón and is clearly visible from outside, though entry inside is not permitted. Best viewing opportunities come from the surrounding plazas and streets, which offer full sight lines of the exterior.
During the 18th century, the tower was repurposed as an observatory for astronomical studies when scholar Gonzalo Antonio Serrano conducted celestial observations from its heights. This later use reveals how medieval structures were adapted for entirely different pursuits.
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