-
Path to the watchtower of Aguilo
Following this path, the visitor will arrive at the watchtower of Aguiló, one of oldest, most important and best kept watchtowers of the defence system against the Berber pirates, created in the time of Felipe II (XVI century) within the Kingdom of Valencia . The monument has recently been restored…
Watchtower of Aguiló (circa 1530)
The coastal defence district of Villajoyosa was controlled by a requeridor de la costa (coastal district defence chief) and covered the whole of the Marina Baja region which had four castles and five watchtowers, the oldest one being the watchtower of Aguiló. Between 1500 and 1750, these structures were used to sight the Berber pirate fleets before they landed on the coast to kidnap the local population and either ransom them or sell them in the slave markets of Oran or Argel. When the fortress of Villajoyosa faced serious threats, Alcoy and the other towns had a duty to send their local militias to defend it because of its important strategic position.
To signal danger, a smoky fire was lit on the top of the tower, which was guarded by three soldiers whose duty was to inspect the nearby beaches every morning. A small artillery mortar was also kept in the tower to fire at pirates landing in Villajoyosa and Benidorm
Map key
1.Gun loop: inclined opening to enable firing from the top of the tower.
2. Canon port: an opening, wider on the inside than the outside to enable the canon to be fired from inside the tower.
3.Machicolation: an opening in a projecting floor sheltered by a parapet to enable soldiers to fire down on the enemy. Originally there was a gun loop and some remains are still visible.
4. Buried earthenware jar that was used to store drinking water.
5.Soldier armed with an arquebus, a weapon that replaced the crossbow around 1550.
- Monument