Excursions through Dénia: The Torre del Gerro

Atalaya, or watchtower, built by the Duke of Maqueda, Viceroy, the mid-sixteenth century to defend the coast of the Kingdom of Valencia.

His task was the sea ​​surveillance, against possible Berber incursions. The XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries are prone to pirate attacks that notably affect many coastal settlements in the Marina Alta. This entails an atmosphere of fear and a certain obsession with the search for strategies aimed at having safe coasts. The historiography on Denia is very explicit. The news about Marco Antonio Palau or some of the contents of the biography of Fray Pedro Esteve, by Cristóbal Mercader, are especially eloquent about these episodes, as well as about the city's response to this reality.

Erected in times of King Charles I, in the years 1553 and 1554, belongs to the first generation of coastal defense works, such as the Torre del Palmer or Almadrava. These towers communicated among them, in many cases, visually, although they used other means as signals with mirrors, fire, etc. Possessed guards who were in charge of both the custody thereof and artillery containing, as any transfers to other towers or nearby urban citadels to alert any eventuality. They belonged to the body of Gent Guard Maritime Coast Regne of Valencia, in charge of the Generalitat.

Its location allowed the control of a large segment of the coast. At his feet was the aiguadolç; a spring of fresh water seeps into the sea. The denomination of Gerro tower It responds to its shape as a gerro, or jug.

Three bodies; a lower solid, sloping, vaulted rooms and three overlapping. Second access door body, which was accessed by escalator. Crowning with two matacanes. The tower presents, on the sea front shield emblem of the Kingdom of Valencia, four bars and royal crown on the two-headed eagle of the Habsburgs. Under the arms of the Duke of Maqueda.

The tower stands haughtily atop the mighty cliff of the coast of the Rotates, near the promontory of Cap de Sant Antoni. A 132 meters above sea level, is located on the limits of the Natural Park Montgó. It is accessed by the Camí de la Torre del Gerro, which leads from the Carretera de les Rotes.

Well heritage of outstanding historical and cultural valueWith an outstanding natural environment and landscape.

Text: Sant Josep A. Gisbert Santonja
Lluch, 2008.