The Calahorra tower (Spanish: ''Torre de la Calahorra'') is a fortified gate in the
historic centre of
Córdoba, Spain
Córdoba (; ),, Arabic: قُرطبة DIN: . or Cordova () in English, is a city in Andalusia, Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. It is the third most populated municipality in Andalusia and the 11th overall in the country.
The ...
. The edifice is of
Islamic origin.
History
It was first erected by the
Almohad Caliphate to protect the nearby
Roman Bridge
The ancient Romans were the first civilization to build large, permanent bridges. Early Roman bridges used techniques introduced by Etruscan immigrants, but the Romans improved those skills, developing and enhancing methods such as arches and ...
on the
Guadalquivir
The Guadalquivir (, also , , ) is the fifth-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula and the second-longest river with its entire length in Spain. The Guadalquivir is the only major navigable river in Spain. Currently it is navigable from the Gul ...
.
The tower, standing on the left bank of the river, originally consisted of an arched gate between two. A third tower was added to the existing ones, in the shape of two cylinders connecting them.
The tower was declared a national historical monument in 1931.
The restoration of the tower, along with the Roman Bridge, Gate of the Bridge and surrounding area, was awarded the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award in 2014.
References
{{Coord, 37, 52, 32, N, 4, 46, 36, W, type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki, display=title
Berber architecture
Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Córdoba (Spain)
Buildings and structures in Córdoba, Spain
Historic centre of Córdoba, Spain
Towers completed in the 13th century