The watchtowers located all along the island were used to spot the boats of Saracen pirates that would sack and destroy villages along the Mediterranean.
If they were spotted during the day, people were alerted by smoke signals from the towers and by fire during the night.
Immediately after the alarm signs, people would hide with their belongings either in the woods or in the fortified churches.
Over the centuries, Ibiza became a western fortress against Islam, and these fortified watchtowers stand as prove. |
|
 This watchtower is located in ses Portes point, and some believe that it was built in the 16th century. The manuscript by Vicente Nicolau dated 1620 states: "The point or cape located next to it is very convenient for in the lighthouse between Ibiza and Fomentera there are three small islands that are three corridors called doors. In this same place once stood a very successful tunny fishery that was later abandoned (...). Hence the construction of this tower in this place. A tower with enough artillery to defend the fishery, which, once abandoned, was useless. God bless the King, our Lord, who has ordered its reconstruction on the island of s’Espalmador, next to Formentera. In a cross fire, the lighthouse will be defended from Argelians and pirates.”
The towers of ses Portes and ses Ram are located in the southernmost part of the island. Ses Portes was built in 1750 and armed with three cannons. It was abandoned military in the 19th century.
The slightly cone-shaped main body of the remains of the tower is divided in two floors with domed ceilings, as well as an upper platform. There is one door in the first floor and another one on the second floor. It still preserves three corbels from which once hung the “matacán”. |
|
Comte (or d'en Rovira) tower |
 This tower is located in the parish of Sant Agusti, exactly in Rovira point, hence the other name by which its known.
It is a first class tower, on of the most important towers on these islands. The original entrance remains on the first floor. The tower was transformed into a house recently, but without altering the façade. The four corbels for the “matacan” still remain.
The design for this tower was made by the Architect Ballester around 1756. It was built by García Martínez in 1763. It was a defense point for the are between Sant Antoni church and the tower of Cap des Savinar.
It is uncertain that this tower took part in any remarkable defensive action. |
 This watchtower is located on top of cape Jueu (also know as Punta de Oliva, or Olive Point) in the parish of es Cubells, facing the small islands of es Vedra and es Vedranell. This cliff point is 200m above sea level, from where the continent’s coasts can sometimes be seen.
This tower is also known as the Pirate’s Tower due to the novel by famous author Blasco Ibáñez, “Los Muertos Mandan" (“Under the Dead’s will”) that took place in it. The Director Architect of the Realm of Majorca, Ballester, designed it in 1756 and it was finished on October 26, 1763.
It has two floors. The first floor is divided in two parts: one for the maritime front and the other subdivided in two parts as well: the armory and a bigger area with stairs leading to the second floor. |
|
Tower of Carregador de sa Sal (The salt miner tower) |
 It is located on the southernmost point of d’en Bossa, in the parish of Sant Franesc of Paula. From here there is a marvelous panoramic view of the island of Fomentera in front, d’en Bossa beach to our left, the longest beach on the islands, and further in the distance, the citadel.
This tower was planned for the defense of the salt miners and hence its name. It was built in the 16th century by the University with royal funds, and some think that it took the place of an existing tower, probably of Arab origins. Originally the first floor was a single room with only one door. In 1762, a new defense system was added, including an armory. Like the rest fortified watchtowers in the island, this one has a first floor and an armory upstairs. In this case the spiral stairs are made of local stone, the "marés", one single stone used for each step. The main entrance was protected by a matacan held by five corbels remaining.
In the main room of this tower there is a fireplace carved in the wall, and a pantry, which are rare features for these buildings. |
|
|
|
|
|
Historical heritage 
