Torre de Guadalmansa, Medieval watchtower in Estepona, Spain.
Torre de Guadalmansa is a stone watchtower in Estepona with a square base and walls built from solid blocks of stone. The entrance sits high up on the wall, well above ground level, and the entire structure follows the practical design common to coastal lookout posts of this region.
The structure began as a watchtower in the 10th century and underwent significant rebuilding in the 16th century. It served as part of a chain of lookout points designed to warn coastal settlements of approaching threats from the sea.
The tower shows how coastal settlements merged different building traditions over time as they strengthened their defenses. You can see in its walls how various periods of construction left their mark, reflecting the way local builders adapted their methods.
The tower sits near a main coastal road between two towns and is easy to spot from the highway. You can approach it on foot, though the ground around it is uneven and rocky in places.
Unlike many coastal watchtowers built in the same period, this one has a square shape rather than a round one, which sets it apart architecturally. This unusual design choice reflects specific building traditions that were less common in other parts of southern Spain.
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