Stone and strategy by the sea

Welcome to Adra (Abdera). Here, Almería ends and Granada begins, but not without passing by a serious piece of coastal defense. The Muralla de Adra has been watching over the Mediterranean for more than 500 years and has seen more action than most port towns.

A wall with royal origins

In 1505, Queen Juana gave the order: build a wall. Not for decoration, but for protection. Adra’s coastline needed defense against pirates, raiders, and other unwelcome visitors. With seven towers and a hexagonal layout, this fortification meant business. Inside the walls? A full-on castle with a courtyard and a tribute tower.

Strategic and solid

Adra was the gateway to Las Alpujarras and a key point for shipping and defense. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Berber and Turkish pirates made regular appearances. Not to say hello, but to loot. Thanks to the wall, Adra often stood its ground.

From fortress to city expansion

By the late 18th century, things calmed down along the coast. The wall lost its purpose. In the 19th century, mining took off and the town needed space to grow. Much of the wall was taken down in the process. Only a few solid sections survived.

What’s still standing today

Two towers are still going strong: the Cubo de la Carrera (also called Torre de la Vela), a sea-facing watchtower, and the Cubo del Cementerio, also known as Torreón de Olvera. Both were restored in 2008 and officially recognized as Monuments.

Old stones, fresh shine. In Adra, history doesn’t gather dust.

(c) photo and source: miscastillos.blog