Torre del Almirante (

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

: ''Tower of the admiral'') is a tower located in

Algeciras Algeciras ( , ) is a municipality of Spain belonging to the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. Located in the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, near the Strait of Gibraltar, it is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar ( es, Bahía de Algeci ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. It was declared ''

Bien de Interés Cultural A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the heritage register in Spain. The term is also used in Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. The term literally means a "good of cultural interest" (" goods" in the economic sense) and incl ...

'' in 1985. The date of this tower is unknown and it pre-dates many other towers that were built around the

Bay of Gibraltar The Bay of Gibraltar ( es, Bahía de Algeciras), is a bay at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. It is around long by wide, covering an area of some , with a depth of up to in the centre of the bay. It opens to the south into the Strait ...

and south of

as batteries and watchtowers. This tower was used by the Admiral

Egidio Boccanegra Egidio Boccanegra was the brother of Simone Boccanegra, the first Doge of Genoa. In 1340 Egidio led a force of Genoese troops in the service of Alfonso XI of Castile in a war against Moroccan troops. The following year, Peter IV of Aragon appoi ...

in the 14th century during the

Siege of Algeciras (1342-1344) The Battle of Algeciras or Siege of Algeciras may refer to: * Siege of Algeciras (1278) * Battle of Algeciras (1278) * Siege of Algeciras (1309) * Siege of Algeciras (1342-1344) * Siege of Algeciras (1369) * Battle of Algeciras (1801) or the ...

. The tower appears on a map of 1608 and it was improved after 1704 following the Capture of Gibraltar when the enclave was seen as a potential beachhead for British forces. The tower was put to good use during the Battle of Algeciras in 1801. The tower was then the base for four 24-pounder guns which guarded the northern approach to Algeciras. The tower was used for machine guns during the 20th century. The ruins are now integrated into the park known as '' Paseo Cornisa''.

References

Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Cádiz Buildings and structures in Algeciras {{Cádiz-struct-stub