Batería de Roldán, Coastal artillery battery at Monte Roldán, Cartagena, Spain
The Bateria de Roldan is a coastal artillery battery at the summit of Monte Roldan near Cartagena, featuring four gun positions equipped with Vickers cannons. Behind them lie semi-buried ammunition storage areas and a protective wall that shields the weapons from the front.
The battery was built in 1926 during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship and received four British anti-aircraft cannons in 1933 for coastal defense. It was part of Spain's broader military strategy to protect its coastline during that era.
The facility displays modernist design elements and iron framework that reflect building preferences in Cartagena during the early 20th century. These features remain visible throughout the complex today.
The site sits on a hilltop accessible via marked hiking trails with a climb of about 1,625 feet (495 meters). The terrain is steep and requires sturdy footwear and a reasonable level of fitness for the ascent.
The main command posts lie almost entirely underground, allowing the visible structures above to blend naturally into the surrounding terrain. This was a deliberate design choice to better protect the position from enemy attack.
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