Torre de la vela Granada

Torre de la Vela: Guardian of Granada

Standing tall in the Alhambra’s Alcazaba fortress, the Torre de la Vela (“Watchtower”) has kept vigil over Granada since the 13th century.

• Historic Bell: The tower’s bell once warned of fires, attacks, and curfews. The sound of the bell could be heard over  a wide radius.  One of the most important aspects of the time keeping was to  regulate the irrigation in the surrounding agricultural land.  The land was irrigated by a series of water channels called "acequias" and different pieces of land are alotted  a certain amount of hours of water flow so in the days before portable watches this was important.
• 360° Panoramas: Climb the steep steps to the top for great views of the Alhambra, Granada’s red rooftops,  Plaza Nueva and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.
• Military Importance: Built by Moorish ruler Muhammad I, its strategic height and thick walls made it an important part of the Alhambra’s defense system. It's imposing impregnability would put off any invader. 

Fun fact: “Vela” means “vigil” in Spanish—a nod to the soldiers who scanned the horizon here for days on end.

Note: To get to the top of the tower you have to go up a winding internal staircase so people who don't go up hills very well make have to sit this one out.  

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