Torre el Saladillo, old watchtower in Estepona
Torre el Saladilla is located in the El Saladillo area of eastern Estepona, near the sea and 300m to the west of Arroyo Saladillo.
It is easy to reach from either Calle Sotavento or the coastal path.
The name of this tower, according to Juan Temboury Alvarez (1899 - 1965) documents published in 1975 the name 'possibly comes from its proximity to salinas' (salt flats). If they existed, the salt flats must have been small as there is no other record or map with their existence.
It dates from the second half of the 16th century and has a circular plan, with a truncated cone shape, similar to those of Padrón and Velerín. Inside it has a room with a fireplace and a brick dome, a staircase and a terrace. The building is made entirely of masonry, red stone, using bricks in the openings and in the vault of the interior chamber. Entrance to the north, with recesses and corbels for matacan, small window probably opened later.
Inside, it is possible to identify the chimney and the staircase leading to the roof, which has an uneven parapet, raised on the north side, where the remains of the original defensive machicolation are visible. The chimney would also have been located here.
Its dimensions are: 7.40 m. in diameter at the base and 5.70 m. in height, a total of 12.20 m. on the outside of the crown; this means a slope of 0.85 m. and a fall of six and a half percent. It is in perfect condition.
Torre el Saladillo was built in 1575
The Seven Watchtowers of the Estepona Coastline
Main sites and things to see and do in Estepona
