Torre del Tajo, 16th-century coastal watchtower near Barbate, Spain

Torre del Tajo is a stone tower from the 1500s standing atop a tall cliff overlooking the Atlantic coast of Andalusia. The structure remains solid and offers wide views of the ocean and surrounding landscape from its position.

The tower was built during the 1500s as a watchtower to guard the coastline and spot approaching vessels from the sea. These structures formed a chain of coastal defenses that stretched across the region.

The tower's name comes from the cliff, or tajo, it stands on. It is one of the atalayas built under Philip II to watch for Berber pirates from Tetuán and Algiers, who raided these shores for the almadraba tuna season. The Junta de Andalucía restored it in 1992–1993, and the La Breña natural park now runs guided activities there.

The walk to the tower follows sandy paths through natural terrain and takes about an hour with some gentle inclines. It is best visited early in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is less intense.

The tower's single circular room is covered by a hemispherical vault with a small round opening at its centre, an oculus that lets people on the terrace communicate with those below. A spiral staircase set into the wall leads from this room up to the sentry box.