The Torre del Oro

The Torre del Oro at night

View from the riverside

The Torre del Oro (Spanish for "Gold Tower") is a military watchtower built in Seville, Spain during the Almohad dynasty in order to control access to the city via the Guadalquivir river. The tower was built as part of the defensive works running from the Alcázar to the river. The tower may have received its name from the golden tiles which cover its dome and may have once adorned the rest of the tower. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1728 × 2304 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 281 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sevilla, Torre del Oro, de noche kodak DX7440 Source: dubaduba File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 281 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Sevilla, Torre del Oro, de noche kodak DX7440 Source: dubaduba File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 260 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 260 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. ... NO8DO (I was not abandoned) Location Coordinates : ( ) Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Sevilla (Spanish) Spanish name Sevilla Founded 8th-9th century BC Postal code 41001-41080 Website http://www. ... The Almohad Dynasty (From Arabic الموحدون al-Muwahhidun, i. ... The Guadalquivir is the second longest river in Spain (after the Tagus). ... King Pedros Palace in the Alcázar from the Patio de la Monteria The Alcázar of Seville (Spanish Reales Alcázares de Sevilla or Royal Alcázars of Seville) is a royal palace in Seville, Spain. ...

Constructed in the first third of the 13th century, it has twelve sides, and from its base a chain would be stretched, underwater, across the river to another fort on the opposite shore, thereby preventing enemy ships from traveling upstream to the port of Seville. The Castilian naval force commanded by Ramón de Bonifaz broke this defense, helping Ferdinand III of Castile capture Seville in 1248. The final and highest addition to the tower was made by Sebastián Van der Borcht in 1760. United arms of Castile and León which Ferdinand first used. ... For broader historical context, see 1240s and 13th century. ... 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages and as a secure enclosure for the protection, at times, of precious metals periodically brought by the fleet of the Indies, another possible origin for the tower's name. This last naming theory was actually created by some tourist guides to deceive tourist. In fact the tower has been called Torre del Oro since at least 1248, when Fernando III gave it to an italian named Nicoloso de la Torre del Oro. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... A treasure fleet is being loaded with riches. ...

It has appeared as the Spanish wonder in Ensemble Studios' Age of Empires II, and a Home City building for the Spanish civilization in the sequel, Age of Empires III Ensemble Studios is a Microsoft-owned company that has developed several computer games, including the famous Age of Empires series. ... Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (or simply Age of Kings) is a real-time strategy computer game set in the middle ages, released in 1999. ... Age of Empires III (also called AoE III) is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. ...

This tower has a lesser known half sister: La Torre de la Plata.

Today the tower is a naval museum, containing engravings, letters, models, instruments, and historic documents. The museum outlines the naval history of Seville and the importance of its river.

External Link

The Torre del Oro in Seville

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Torre del Oro