Torre Medieval de Alcalalí
The Medieval Tower of Alcalalí is a defensive building of Islamic origin built in the 14th century. Its prismatic structure with an almost square floor plan, approximately six by eight meters, is characterized by a sloped base and masonry walls reinforced at the corners with ashlars. Inside, a spiral staircase connects its five floors.
The construction of the tower is attributed to Mosén Pedro de Castellví and his wife Yolanda Pardo, lords of Alcalalí and Jalón, who erected it between the late 14th and early 15th centuries for the purpose of monitoring and providing refuge from possible pirate and bandit invasions that ravaged the region.
In 1599, Don Eiximen Ruiz de Lihory y Pertusa acquired Alcalalí and ordered the construction of a palatial residence adjacent to the tower, connected by a drawbridge. The Ruiz de Lihory family maintained the lordship of Alcalalí until 1837, when the feudal regimes were abolished by order of Queen Maria Cristina.
Over the centuries, the tower has had various functions. Originally, its five floors were distributed as follows:
Ground floor: used as a prison and later as a warehouse for goods.
First floor: lord's hall.
Second floor: lord's bedroom.
Third floor: accommodation for servants and defenders.
Fourth floor: watch platform.
In 1992, the tower was acquired by the Alcalalí Town Hall, which began its restoration with the collaboration of the Alicante Provincial Council. An elevator was installed, and an iron and glass structure was added on the top floor, functioning as a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Vall de Pop.
Currently, the Medieval Tower of Alcalalí houses a museum on its first two floors, displaying graffiti and engravings from the 16th to the 18th centuries, offering insight into the habits and customs of the region's former inhabitants. The third floor preserves these historical graffiti, while the fourth floor leads to the panoramic viewpoint on the fifth floor.
The tower, along with the 18th-century church located opposite, remains one of the tallest and most emblematic buildings in Alcalalí, preserving the historical essence and charm of the town.
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