Cristal Tower

Cristal Tower, locally known as Torre de Cristal or Castillo de Villaricos, lies next to the beach, in the village of Villaricos in the province of Almería in Spain.

Cristal Tower was built between 1763 and 1772, during the reign of Charles III of Spain, on the site of an earlier tower, next to the mouth of the Almanzora river. It is an artillery tower of the horseshoe-type for coastal defense, just like the Macenas and Mesa Roldán towers, also in Almería.

Originally entrance to the tower was gained through a doorway on first floor level, accessed by a rope ladder. On the lowest level were rooms for gunpowder and storage. On the first floor level were a kitchen and living quarters. Two 24-pounder cannons would be situated on the roof.

In the second half of the 19th century Cristal tower was transferred to the Carabineros Corps and in 1941 to the Guardia Civil. In the beginning of the 1990s it was restored.

At present the exterior of Cristal Tower can freely be visited. A sign said it was used as a local tourist office, but I could not find any opening hours. Too bad, I would like to have taken a look inside this nice fort tower.

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