Santa Elena tower, Coastal watchtower in La Azohía, Cartagena, Spain

Santa Elena Tower is a hexagonal masonry watchtower standing almost 100 metres above sea level at La Azohía, facing the Gulf of Mazarrón. It has two bodies, with a slightly conical batter at the base, two floors linked by a spiral staircase, a vaulted roof and a cistern. A long-range cannon cast in Italy in 1742 still stands in its merlons.

The tower was built between 1556 and 1598 under the direction of Giovanni Battista Antonelli as part of a defense system against Barbary pirates threatening the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It emerged during a period when coastal fortifications were necessary to protect merchant ships and settlements.

The tower's name comes from Saint Helena, and it is also called Torre de La Azohía after the fishing village below. Each March to August, fishermen working the waters beneath it use the almadraba, a trap-net method of Moorish origin, to catch bluefin tuna, melva and lecha.

The tower sits on Carretera Isla Plana in La Azohía and remains accessible for exterior viewing and photography throughout the year. The cliffside location means visitors should wear sturdy footwear and take care in windy conditions.

The tower transmitted warnings through smoke signals by day and fire signals by night to neighboring watchtowers. This simple system allowed several towers to activate an alarm chain within minutes without requiring messengers to travel between them.