The Great Sentinel
During the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the Catalan coast lived under constant threat from pirate raids originating in North Africa and other parts of the European coastline. In response, a network of watchtowers and defensive structures was deployed along the coast to monitor the sea, warn the population and offer armed resistance. Among these constructions stood the so-called Torre Nova of Salou.
In 1666, local authorities submitted requests to the royal court seeking permission to build a tower at the Port of Salou. The need for this fortification was justified by the frequent pirate landings along this stretch of coast, during which people working in the fields were captured and fishing and commercial vessels were attacked. The situation was so serious that many residents were afraid to cultivate land near the sea, leaving numerous fields abandoned and leading to a gradual depopulation of the area.
On 21 October 1666, the Queen ordered the Captain General of Catalonia to grant permission for the construction of a tower at the Port of Salou. On 10 December of the same year, King Charles II officially confirmed the license. The decree stipulated that construction costs and the artillery required to defend the area would be borne by the local builders and the surrounding towns involved.
To finance the works, funds were raised through a voluntary donation scheme established among the towns and cities of the Camp de Tarragona. By the end of 1679, construction had come to a halt, prompting renewed royal intervention. On 5 December 1679, a royal decree was issued ordering the resumption of the works and requesting a detailed report on the state of construction and the defensive needs of the coast.
The report was commissioned from the engineer Jerònim Rinaldi (Milan, 17th century – Catalonia, 1681). He noted that the tower stood approximately forty-five pams (traditional units) high, but that construction had been interrupted due to the severe economic crisis of the time. He also highlighted that no personnel had been assigned to the tower. Rinaldi emphasized the great strategic importance of the Port of Salou, describing it as one of the most important along the coast, as it provided shelter for numerous vessels during storms. Without proper defenses, however, it could become a vulnerable point for enemy forces and pirates.
The building that survived until the 20th century had a hexagonal layout, with an outer sloping wall that reinforced its resistance to attack. The interior was arranged over several levels: the ground floor housed a cistern for water storage and accommodation for soldiers; the upper floor contained a command room, a powder magazine and a small artillery platform on the roof. At the base of the tower, an artillery battery with four cannons was installed during the 18th century, allowing the surrounding area to be defended in the event of an enemy landing.
The Torre Nova was demolished in the 1960s due to its poor state of conservation and serious structural problems.
“Plan, profiles, and elevation of the Torre Nova at the Port of Salou and its adjacent Battery, built in 1742 (18th century). General Military Archive of Madrid, ref. T‑1/18.”
Further reading:
Otiña Hermoso, Pedro (2018): “Pirates i corsaris al Cap de Salou: com si estiguessin en lo moll d’Alger.” Cultura i Paisatge a la ruta del Cister, no. 11 (2018), pp. 50–57.
Otiña Hermoso, Pedro (2016): Pirates i corsaris. Els atacs contra Vila-seca i la costa del Camp de Tarragona. Agrupació Cultural de Vila-seca. Vila-seca.
