Torre del Oro

The Torre del Oro, or Tower of Gold, is a 13th-century dodecagonal military watchtower located in Seville, Spain. It was constructed by the Almohad Caliphate to control access to Seville via the Guadalquivir river. The tower has three levels, with the first level built in 1220 and the second level added in the 14th century. The third level, which is circular in shape, was added after the previous third level was damaged by the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages and was later used as a chapel, a gunpowder store, and the offices of the Port authorities and the Naval Command. Today, it houses a small naval museum with exhibits and a panoramic terrace. The tower is one of the most representative symbols of Seville and was designated a historic-artistic monument in 1931