 18th Century Map of watchtowers on coast |
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Torre Nueva Watchtower - Mijas Costa
Torre Nueva de la Cala del Moral, also called Torre de Pentapeseta, Torre Pesetas, Torre Vigía de Torrenueva, Torre Penta Pesetos and Torre de la Peseta.,
It is located in an elevated point not far from the beach in the grounds of an housing estate on the headland west of La Cala de Mijas.
Most historians agree this tower was built 1568. It has a truncated cone shape with an approximate perimeter of 18.20 meters and a height of 10.65 meters and a diameter of 5.65 meters at the base. It has the usual solid lower body and an interior chamber whose access, on the north side, is at 6.10m.
Some reports say it was constructed about 1,800 making it the most modern tower of the Malaga coast being built for customs surveillance purposes.
Through an interior staircase it is acceded to the roof where a sentry box still stands. The parapet wall is well conserved parapet. The interior chamber has a square window on the south side. Its construction is of masonry with disposition of the stones in horizontal rows. It presents a brick impost at the height of the parapet.
The tower was declared ‘Bien de Interés Cultural’ (listed building) in 1985.
Coastal Watchtowers
There have been about 200 watchtowers or forts build along the coast of Southern Spain. All with the purpose of looking out for invaders from the South. Some of the watchtowers seen today are Moorish origins, mainly constructed by the Nasrid dynasty of Granada after 1250. Most of the present wachtowers were constructed around 1575
Over half the towers constructed have lasted to the present day; both due to their remarkable solid construction and due to being in use up to the middle of the 20th century. There are about 10 different architectural constructions. The towers that are Moorish are identified from being cylindrical or rectangular in shape with vertical walls, whereas the majority were constructed (or reconstructed) in the major coastal defence programme of King Filipe II in 1575 are slightly conical in shape.
After 1518 attacks by Barbary pirates, (also known as Barbary corsairs, or Ottoman corsairs) based in North Africa and acting on behalf of the Ottoman Sultan. Initially the pirate raids concentrated on shipping but escalating to land raids. They were slave-hunters, and their methods were ferocious, capturing young people for the Ottoman slave trade.
Read the full account of the Coastal watchtowers.
MIJAS COSTA Watchtowers
Mijas has three such towers and one fort. From west to east:
Watchtowers of Mijas Costa
In Mijas Coast one can find three watch towers and one fort. From west to east:
Torre de Calahonda
Torre de Calahoda is located over looking Playa Calahonda in the grounds of a private villa. It was constructed in 1575. More >
Torre Nueva
Torre Nueva de la Cala del Moral, also called Penta Pesetos, located in the grounds of an housing estate on the headland west of La Cala de Mijas. It was constructed in 1,568. More >
Torre Batería de la Cala del Moral
This is the fort in the centre of La Cala de Mijas. It has been reformed and can be explored and the views from the roof can be viewsd. It contains a 'centro de interpretation' (visitors centre) which explains the history of the towers in Mijas Costa. It was constructed about between 1766 and 1773. More >
Torre de Calaburras
Torre de Calaburras is located on the headland within El Faro housing estate above the modern lighthouse. It was constructed in 1,1574. More >
LOCATION
In the grounds of a housing complex, open access from Avenida de Rota.