On a return visit to special sights and cities in the world, now it’s the turn of Sevilla, more particularly to the Torre del Oro, a fine example of Arab military architecture.
When the Arabs occupied the city, naming it Al Andalus, the Torre del Oro was built as one of the stalwarts of the defensive strengths of the area. It was part of the wall and controlled access and transit of ships rose and fell by the waters of the Guadalquivir.
This type of tower, relatively low, were ideal for providing fire support and isolate the enemy ships, as the flaming arrows and small catapults could cause a lot of havoc on marine invaders.
It has a height of 36 meters and consists of 3 bodies, a cylindrical top, and two bases dodecagonal. The ladder works like traditional focus of this defensive structure and functional Arabic.
It’s interesting how the tower itself is a reflection of the intense political and artistic activity that hit the region, the base is a clear example of Almohad architecture, while the center belongs to the Mudejar of late fourteenth century and the final responds to features of the eighteenth century.
It suffered extensive damage after the earthquake of Lisbon in 1775, and has since been restored to several of its parts, but without losing the historical and monumental status of the work in its entirety.
The Torre del Oro is located in the current quarter of Triana, and after the re-conquest of Seville was transformed into a chapel dedicated to St. Isidore, and later used as a prison. Today it serves as headquarters of the Naval Museum.
