Torre del Oro

About this place

The Almohads built this many-sided watchtower in the early 13th century to control access along the Guadalquivir River. Its riverside position explains Seville's dependence on waterborne movement and defence. View it from the riverbank to appreciate its role within the former fortifications. Its twelve-sided form gives the tower a distinctive appearance when seen from different angles along the water. The structure also served as a prison during the Middle Ages. This change of use is a reminder that a city's defensive buildings often remained useful long after the military circumstances that created them had changed.