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Guadalmesí Tower

The Guadalmesí tower is a watchtower on the Strait coast, in the municipality of Tarifa and within the Strait Natural Park. It takes its name from the Guadalmesí stream, at whose mouth it stands. Its construction was approved in 1577 and work began in 1588, under the direction of Luis Bravo de Laguna, who was in charge of fortifications in the time of Philip II. It is a circular cylinder, about 12 metres in diameter at the base and 15 high, with the lower third solid. Above is a vaulted room entered through a door-window 5.5 metres off the ground, facing north, and a spiral staircase inside the wall leads to the terrace. It has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) since 29 June 1985. It can be reached on foot along the Colada de la Costa path, which leaves Tarifa next to a tower of the castle wall and runs for 16.2 km in total to the Huerta Grande visitor centre.

Things to do at Guadalmesí Tower: 3 missions

• Walk the Colada de la Costa to the towerLeave Tarifa next to the castle wall tower and follow the Colada de la Costa path along the cliffs to the mouth of the Guadalmesí stream, where the tower stands.
• Find the raised door facing northFind the door-window, 5.5 metres off the ground on the north face, and notice that it cannot be entered at ground level.
• Walk around the Guadalmesí watchtowerWalk around the cylinder and observe its circular plan, about 12 metres in diameter at the base and 15 high, and the solid lower part.

Near Guadalmesí Tower

Source: Cádiz Turismo (Diputación de Cádiz) - Sendero Colada de la Costa