Walls of Tabarca, Defensive fortification in Tabarca Island, Spain
The Walls of Tabarca are a complete fortification system surrounding the small island off the Alicante coast, built with stone blocks and featuring three baroque gates named San Rafael, San Gabriel, and San Miguel. They form a continuous defensive perimeter that follows the island's irregular shoreline to protect the interior settlement.
Engineer Fernando Méndez de Ras designed these fortifications in 1769 in response to ongoing maritime threats in this Mediterranean region. The construction was undertaken to strengthen Spanish coastal defense capabilities against attacks from the sea.
The walls reflect how residents lived during the 1700s and organized their island community for protection against threats from the sea. The three gates and ramparts remain central to how visitors experience and understand the island's past role as a defensive settlement.
Visitors reach the island via regular boat services from mainland Alicante that operate year-round, making it accessible for trips throughout the seasons. The walls can be explored on foot by walking around the entire perimeter, allowing visitors to see all three gates and the structural details from different angles.
The walls were specifically built to adapt precisely to the island's rocky and irregular coastline rather than following a square or round pattern. This customized construction significantly increased defensive capabilities by taking advantage of natural rock formations and coastal features.
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