 18th Century Map of watchtowers on coast |
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Torre de Calahonda Watchtower of Mijas Costa
Torre de Calahonda is has also been referred to as Cala Honda, Calaona, Calaonda, Calahorra and Lancón. The tower and was completed in 1575 with a budget of 560 ducados as part of the King Filipe II watchtower construction programme. It is located on a promontory in the western reaches of Mijas Costa; Calahonda not far from boundary with Marbella and Cabopino Marina.
In 1497 this area was called Calahorra, being an outpost guarded by the Cavalry from Marbella. Calahorra is an Islamic word, synonymous with albarrana, meaning isolated tower.
The tower is boat tail or truncated cone in plan shape with a base of 7.35m diameter and 23.5m perimeter. The and a height of 10.20m. the solid lower body is 5.85m high. The entrance is at 6.1m height on the north side into the single chamber with is preserved. A staircase leads to the roof. It originally had parapet wall with crenels. Crenels are the upright projections on the wall that resemble teeth, popular in medieval defensive architecture. The tower is It is built of dark masonry, laid in horizontal courses and without the use of bricks.
A 1726 report points out that the tower should be equipped with one cannon, two stone masts and six soldiers. Later regulations state the requirement of three soldiers. By 1765 things must have been hotting up as there was a project by Esteban Aymerick to install two four pound cannon ball cannons. This required the ceiling vaults to be reinforced. The two were in service by 1774. A 1830 document described Torre Calahonda as being 40m from the sea managed by a corporal, three tower keepers and four soldiers.
In 1857 Torre Calahonda was still just 40m from the sea and in an average state of repair,. However, a project to establish Telegraph included the tower as one of its stations. Notable this was not long after 1844 when Morse send the famous ‘What hath God wrought!’ message form Washington to Baltimore.
The tower is located in the landscaped grounds of a private villa complex next to a swimming pool built before 1977. In 2009 the villa for sale. This prompted Mijas Town Council requested the Junta de Andalucía to take the necessary steps to obtain ownership of the tower. This did not did not happen.
It is possible to view the tower from the Malaga Coastal path located behind the Doña Lola complex and restaurant. Join the coastal here or Max Beach Club a few hundred metres to the east.
The tower was declared ‘Bien de Interés Cultural (España)">Bien de Interés Cultural’ (listed building) in 1985.
The urbanisation ‘Sitio de Calahonda’ was developed by Don José de Orbaneja who purchased two large estates in 1963. He recalls that Calahonda was the historic name of the area. At this time the main feature of the estate was a ‘casa fuerte’ (fort-house) which dated back to the same time as the watchtower. The fort-house was a refuge with immensely thick walls and the building was camouflaged with vegetation and ochre paint on it upper part. Although the ground level was painted white in traditional Andalucian style. The old fort house is the place that is now El Campanario and house the Norwegian Church. Although it is said that before the Urbanisation locals used to call the inland area Cala Carbon thus Calhonda historically referred to the coastal strip the name suggests Cala Honda (deep cove).
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:
Torre de Calahonda
Torre de Calahoda is located over looking Playa Calahonda in the grounds of a private villa. It was constructed about 1,600. 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 about 1,700. 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 1,550. More >
Torre de Calaburras
Torre de Calaburras is located on the headland within El Faro housing estate above the modern lighthouse. It was constructed about 1,600. More >