Torre del Oro

The Torre del Oro (" Turn of the or" in Spanish) is a military tower of observation built with Seville in Spain during the dynasty of Almohades in order to control the access to the city since the river Guadalquivir. The tower was built like a defensive element of the active whole of the Alcázar to the river. The name of the tower would come from the gilded tiles which covered the roof and decorated the remainder of the building. Built at the beginning of the 13th century, the tower has twelve sides and of its base, it was possible to tighten a chain across the river to prevent the ships ennmis from going up to the wearing of Seville. When these chains broke, the Christian army of Ferdinand III of Castille, ordered by the admiral Ramón de Bonifaz, could seize the city in 1248. The last addition with the tower was made by Sebastián Vander Borcht in 1760.

The tower was used of Prison during the Moyen-âge and as stock room made safe to protect the noble metals regularly brought by the Spanish fleet.

The tower is today a maritime museum which shelters a collection of engravings, letters, models reduced, instruments of navigattion and documents historical. The museum stresses the importance of the naval history of Seville and the importance of the river for the city.

External bonds

Description of the tower on the site of Association the Admiral of the Sea Océane.
Description of the tower on the partail of Seville.

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