Torre de la Higuera, 16th-century watchtower in Matalascañas, Spain
Torre de la Higuera is a round stone tower standing on Matalascañas beach with its foundation exposed by coastal erosion. Waves wash around the masonry while sand partially covers the lower sections, leaving the structure half-buried in the water.
King Philip II ordered the construction in 1577 to protect the coast from North African raids. The tower was part of a network of watchtowers built along the Spanish Atlantic shore.
The tower takes its name from a fig tree that once stood nearby and served as a landmark. Today it recalls the wide coastal defense system that stretched along the Andalusian shore, whose remains are still visible across the landscape.
Access is via the beach, where the structure becomes more visible at low tide. Local authorities have prohibited climbing for safety reasons to protect visitors and preserve the masonry.
The structure appears inverted today, with its base visible above water while the walls remain hidden in sand. This condition arose from the advancing coastline gradually enclosing the tower.
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