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Santa Catalina Castle
The so-called Santa Catalina Castle is not a medieval castle but a historicist building put up in 1930-1931 on Santa Catalina hill and finished in 1933. The Navy requested the hill in 1928 for an optical signalling station, but the telegraph was never installed. Its viewing tower is now one of the most recognisable silhouettes in Tarifa. Earlier, the hill held a hermitage of Saint Catherine of Siena, which served as a lazaretto during a plague in the 17th century, a powder magazine in 1771 and a British artillery fort during the Peninsular War. In 1972 a Navy meteorological observatory was installed here, which moved out in 2000, and the building returned to the town council. It overlooks Playa Chica and the isthmus leading to Isla de las Palomas. It is closed to the public; it can be admired from outside.
Add it to your trip on Wanloria →Things to do at Santa Catalina Castle: 3 missions
- Go down to Playa Chica below the hillGo down to Playa Chica, at the foot of the hill, and look up to see the building on the slope.
- Find the building's viewing towerFrom the street or from Playa Chica, look for the building's tower and note its fortress-like appearance.
- Follow the isthmus towards Isla de las PalomasFrom the foot of the hill, see how the isthmus joins Tarifa to Isla de las Palomas, which the hill overlooks.
Near Santa Catalina Castle
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Santa Catalina Castle?
Visiting Santa Catalina Castle is free.
What are the opening hours of Santa Catalina Castle?
No se visita por dentro; se ve desde Playa Chica y desde el camino hacia la isla de las Palomas.
How much time do you need for Santa Catalina Castle?
Allow about 30 min for the visit.
What is there to do at Santa Catalina Castle?
Go down to Playa Chica below the hill, Find the building's viewing tower and Follow the isthmus towards Isla de las Palomas.
What is there to see near Santa Catalina Castle?
Port of Tarifa (106 m), Guzmán el Bueno Castle (477 m) and Tarifa Point (640 m).