Calahorra Tower

Calahorra Tower, locally known as Torre de la Calahorra, lies in the center of the city of Elche in the province of Alicante in Spain.

The Calahorra Tower was probably built in the late 12th or early 13th century during Almohad rule. It was built as a watchtower and was an integral part of the city walls. It guarded the entrance to the town of an important road coming from the city of Alicante. Originally the tower would probably have been higher and had more extensions.

In 1296 the city was conquered by James I of Aragon. It was then that the Calahorra Tower was first mentioned.

The manor house now attached to the tower was built in the 16th century and was then probably used by the almudín of the city; an establishment where wheat and other cereals were stored and  traded.

During the 19th century Calahorra Tower was refurbished; neo-Arabic windows and the present battlements were added and a lot of rooms were equipped with lavish trompe-l'œil wall paintings.

In 1829 the city was hit by an earthquake, the tower was damaged and the other extensions, besides the manor house, were destroyed. 

At present Calahorra Tower can be visited for a fee, it houses a small museum and you can go up unto the roof. The city of Elche also houses Altamira Castle (only 100 meters to the west) and the watch towers Ressemblanc and Vaillo. So together with the Palmeral; a large historical palm grove in the center of the city, this is a real nice place to visit.

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