If you have a car, then a short trip down the coast will get you an interesting close-up view of a number of the old watchtowers. Plenty of watering holes along the way, so make it a leisurely day out.
The Torre de Torrecilla, located at the end of Torrecilla beach, Nerja, is, to say the least, a ‘bit of a ruin’. There have been plans – for decades – to try and renovate the tower, but so far none have come anywhere near to fruition.
This former stronghold was built to protect the workers in the nearby San Antonio Abad sugar mill during the XVI century. It was bombarded by the English in 1812.
The Torre de Macaca, built on a small cliff, can be seen from the N-340 as one enters or leaves Nerja near Punta Lara. This defensive tower, part of a chain of defences, was built in 1497 and is 12m. high with a circumference of 23m.
In the relatively short distance between Torre del Mar and Nerja there are no fewer than five of the ancient defensive watchtowers. These towers were generally built in the 15th century, some a little later, and were designed to keep an eye out for unwelcome visitors from Morocco and elsewhere. The towers tend to be around 12 metres tall.
The Torre Moya, or Torre Gorda (Fat Tower) in Benajarafe dates from the 18th century and was built to keep a lookout for pirates who were a constant threat to coastal towns. It is the largest tower along the Málaga coast.
This tower stands on a hill about 15 metres above sea level and immediately next to the N-340. It is a typical hoof tower, with a semi-circular front (normal) but with a more rectangular rear section. First one I have seen like this.
In 1492, after the conquest of Granada, Chilches and its two watchtowers were divided amongst the noblemen that fought in the battle. These included the Count Manrique de Lara and the Marquis Garcia Fernández Manrique. Although the inland tower was destroyed shortly afterwards, the tower on the coast remains standing today.
Chilches dates back to the Roman era when its name was Cicer, due to the abundance of chickpea fields in the area.
After several consecutive invasions, Chilches became a Visigoth settlement, and later, a Moorish settlement. In that era, its name changed to the current Chilches, and it became a thriving Moorish farmstead.
This is the Torre de Benagalbón, opposite the Guardia Civil station.
It was built in the 14th century to keep a lookout for pirates and raiders and smoke (daytime) and fires (nighttime) would be used to warn the local residents.
Total distance, Nerja to Torre de Benagalbón = 36 km / 23 miles.