Torre del Portitxol, Coastal defense tower in Alghero, Italy

Torre del Portitxol is a stone tower built in the second half of the 16th century on the slope above the Portitxol beach in Alghero. It consists of a cylinder resting on an unusual stepped, truncated-cone scarp base and stands about 10.60 metres high. From its position it overlooked the small harbour where Alghero's coral fishermen repaired their boats.

Built in the second half of the 16th century by coral fishermen from Alghero, who repaired their boats on the beach of the Portitxol. By 1572 the tower held two pieces of artillery and three guards watching over the boats. From its 48-metre height the guards could see up to 25 km and stayed in contact with the towers of Porto Conte and Porto Ferro.

This tower is part of a network of coastal structures that protected the island from sea attacks and shaped how people lived along the shoreline. Visitors can observe how these fortifications were woven into daily life and the rhythm of maritime communities.

The tower stands on a slope above the beach of Portitxol, within the Porto Conte natural park and the Capo Caccia–Isola Piana marine reserve. It is reached on foot along park paths on uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes. The tower was restored in spring 2009 and can be viewed from outside.

Paleontologists discovered dinosaur fossils near this tower in 2008, including the first synapsid remains ever found in Italy. This paleontological discovery links the fortress to the region's ancient geological past.