Torre de la Vela Terrace with a bell and flags
Torre de la Vela Terrace
Located on the western part of the Alcazaba, Torre de la Vela, also known as the Watch Tower, provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding areas. It is one of the three towers built by Mohammed I (1238-1273), the founder of the Nasrid dynasty.
With four floors and a terrace, it is the tallest tower in the Alcazaba. It also has three underground floors and a dungeon. The iconic bell tower on the terrace was not part of the original construction. The Christian kings, who took over the Alhambra, installed the bell to warn residents of the surrounding areas of attacks and other emergencies. The tower got its name because of this bell. Velar in Spanish means to keep vigil. So, Torre de la Vela is a tower that keeps vigil.
The tower sustained severe damages due to a variety of catastrophic events, including an explosion and earthquake, that occurred during the post Nasrid period. The damages included the ripping off of the original battlements and breaching of part of the tower.
Related Pages
Alhambra
–Palacios Nazaríes – Nasrid Palaces – A Shining Example of Moorish Art and Architecture
–Los Jardines del Partal – The Gardens of the Partal
–Alcazaba – A Formidable Fortress of the Nasrids
–Medina, the Bustling City
–Alhambra – Christian-Era Monuments
–Alhambra – Outer Monuments
Generalife – Heavenly Gardens of the Nasrids
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