Torre Tavira

The Torre Tavira, in Cadix

The Torre Tavira is the highest watchtower of the historic centre of Cadix, the culminating point from which the arrival of the ships from America was once watched. The Cadix audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this tower-mirador of a baroque palace, become in 1778 the official lookout of the port, and the famous camera obscura that today projects the town live.

The lookout of the port of Cadix

Here you are at the foot of the Torre Tavira, one of the most fascinating places of Cadix and the highest watchtower of the historic centre. It is part of the Palacio de los Marqueses de Recaño, an elegant baroque palace built around 1730 for a rich family of Genoese origin. At that time, the great merchant houses all possessed a tower-mirador: there were more than one hundred and sixty in the whole town. They served to watch the arrival of the ships loaded with goods come from America, silver, cocoa, tobacco, spices, but also to enjoy the breeze and the exceptional light of Cadix. Among all these towers, the Torre Tavira was the most strategic. Situated on the highest point of the historic centre, at forty-five metres above sea level, it became in 1778 the official watchtower of the port. It owes its name to its first watchman, Don Antonio Tavira, frigate lieutenant charged with announcing the arrival of the ships. By climbing the one hundred and seventy-three steps, you cross a palace laden with history, that sheltered the first Supreme Court of Spain in 1812, a School of Fine Arts, then a Normal School. At the top, a panoramic terrace offers a three hundred and sixty degree view over the roofs, the domes and the sea, while the famous camera obscura projects, in real time, animated images of the town. A panoramic tower and a historic lookout, the Torre Tavira is a fine stop of the discovery of Cadix.

What to see

Here you discover the highest watchtower of old Cadix, tower-mirador of the baroque palace of the marquises of Recaño built around 1730; at forty-five metres above the sea, it became in 1778 the official lookout of the port, in the time when the town counted more than one hundred and sixty towers to watch the ships from America. At the top, a three hundred and sixty degree view and a camera obscura that projects the town live. The Torre Tavira is the belvedere of Cadix. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Torre Tavira lies in the heart of the historic centre of Cadix, reachable on foot. You climb it by one hundred and seventy-three steps to the terrace and the camera obscura; the visit is paying and follows the hours in force, which vary. It is best to enquire before coming, notably for the sessions of the camera obscura.

Why was the Torre Tavira of Cadix important?

Because, situated on the highest point of the historic centre, at forty-five metres above the sea, it became in 1778 the official watchtower of the port, charged with watching the arrival of the ships from America; tower-mirador of a baroque palace of 1730, it owes its name to its first watchman, Don Antonio Tavira, and today shelters a camera obscura that projects the town live.

Where is the Torre Tavira in Cadix?

In the heart of the historic centre of Cadix, in Spain.