Construction began in 1413 by order of Fernando de Antequera, King of the Crown of Aragon, to defend the area from possible Saracen attacks or Barbary pirates, a not exactly isolated event that had turned the coasts of Orpesa/Oropesa del Mar, in the King's own words, into coasts that "Instead of men, panthers inhabit them; and instead of domestic birds, vultures and crows flit about". Curiously, it was built with donations in brushes from the churches placed for this purpose and with private donations from the people of the crown of Aragon, mainly from Valencia.
Of all the extensions and improvements that were made to it, perhaps the most important was the one carried out by Juan de Cervellón in 1534, leaving the walls of the tower 4 metres wide. In 1568 the tower was bought by Philip II for 10,000 ducats, which is why it became known as the King's Tower.
If you contemplate this practically unique construction in the world, you can understand the feeling of security that it transmitted to the inhabitants of Orpesa/Oropesa del Mar and which certainly contributed to the repopulation and flourishing of the town. Its mere presence surely deterred many pirate attacks, which were so frequent at the time, and today it offers you the chance to admire a military construction unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
FOR VISITS CONSULT THE MUSEUM OF OROPESA DEL MAR IN +34 964 310 100 EXT.: 1621
