Torre de Sant Joan, Coastal defense tower in Amposta, Spain.
Torre de Sant Joan is a stone coastal defense tower with a truncated pyramid shape and convex walls standing partially submerged in the shallow waters of Alfacs Bay. The structure was built with multiple floors to function as a fortified outpost capable of independent operation.
The tower was built in 1576 under orders from King Philip II as part of a defensive network against Saracen pirate raids. It was one of several towers constructed along the coast during the 16th century to protect the region from maritime threats.
The tower served as a key outpost embedded in local life, functioning not only as a defensive position but also as a refuge for surrounding communities. Its chapel on the second floor was a spiritual center where religious practices united the people living in this remote and isolated location.
Visiting the tower requires walking across farmland and wooden walkways while navigating water and muddy areas along the way. Access conditions vary depending on the season, especially during times of active agriculture in the Delta region.
The tower once stood on the coast but now sits roughly 50 meters out in the water due to natural shifts in the Ebro Delta landscape. This displacement reveals how dramatically the geography of this coastal region has changed over the centuries.
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