In the Pitiusas we have a total of 14 towers if we count the 4 that stand on Formentera (Punta Prima, Pi des Català, Punta Gavina and Cap de Barbaria) and another one located on Espalmador (from which it gets its name). The 9 remaining towers are spread across Ibiza. Two are inland towers (one built into the Sant Antoni Church and the other into the Santa Eulàlia church), while the remaining 7 are dotted around the coast.
In a previous blog we spoke about the towers located in the north of the island, those closest to the agro-tourism Can Planells. Today we will travel down to the southernmost part of the island.
1. TOWER D’EN ROVIRA – Sant Josep de Sa Talaia
This tower is located at the southernmost tip of Playa den Bossa, in the parish of Sant Francesc de s’Estany. From here there is a beautiful panoramic view with the island of Formentera on the horizon, the full length of Ibiza’s longest beach to the left, and the city of Ibiza in the background. Like the islands’ other defense towers, this one is comprised of two floors, with access to the top storey by means of a retractable ladder. The outer door was defended by a machicolation supported by five brackets, three of which are still intact. The tower is unique in that the main room has a fireplace built into the wall as well as a little built-in closet.
2. TOWER DES CARREGADOR DE SA SAL – Sant Josep de Sa Talaia
This tower is located at the southernmost tip of Playa den Bossa, in the parish of Sant Francesc de s’Estany. From here there is a beautiful panoramic view with the island of Formentera on the horizon, the full length of Ibiza’s longest beach to the left, and the city of Ibiza in the background. Like the islands’ other defense towers, this one is comprised of two floors, with access to the top storey by means of a retractable ladder. The outer door was defended by a machicolation supported by five brackets, three of which are still intact. The tower is unique in that the main room has a fireplace built into the wall as well as a little built-in closet.
3. TORRE DES SAVINAR – Sant Josep de Sa Talaia
Perched on a cliff called Cape des Jueus in the parish of Es Cubells, this tower rises 200 meters over the sea and overlooks the islets of Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell. If conditions are right, it is often possible to make out the Spanish coastline in the distance. This tower (also known as Pirate Tower from Blasco Ibanez’s book Los muertos mandan) was designed in approximately 1756 by the engineer Ballester. Construction, however, was not finished until 26th October, 1763, like some of the aforementioned towers. It has two floors, the first divided in two equal parts: one looks out to the sea, while the other half is again subdivided into two smaller parts of different sizes. The smaller of these was used as the gunpowder magazine, while the larger has a staircase built into the wall that leads to the top store.
4. TOWER DE SES PORTES – Sant Josep de Sa Talaia
The tower of ses Portes is located on the Point bearing the same name. It was one of the earliest towers built in the Pitiusas (together with that of Espalmador), having been raised in 1750 to protect the salt pans at Ses Salines and the Passage of Es Freus, the waterway between Ibiza and Formentera. It was discontinued for military use in the 19th century. In its final stage, its exterior structure is that of a truncated cone with two floors. Today it has a door on the ground floor and one on the top storey. At the foot of this tower there are some charming fishermen’s huts where we can enjoy a swim in crystalline turquoise waters.
