Torre del Agua (Water Tower), Granada

We can thank Corporal Jose Garcia for saving the Alhambra in 1812. Napoleon's marshals were taking a beating from The Duke of Wellington and the French had to abandon Granada. The retreating army tried to blow up the entire fortress. Jose cut the fuses between the towers. A shout out to Jose, he saved the Alhambra.

The Tower of Cabo was destroyed. The Water Tower lost all but a few walls. The tower remained a wreck until 1870 when the Alhambra was declared a national monument.

The Water Tower is actually a defensive work erected in the southeast corner of the Alhambra complex. It was in position to protest the al Saquilla al-Sultan, the Royal canal that provided water for the entire Alhambra. The water came from the River Darro. The water arrived at the tower via a network of pools, cisterns and wells.

The original tower had three floors. Because it was primarily a military facility, it had no ornamentation. Next to the tower there is an acqueduct. The aqueduct connects to the Alhambra and the Generalife by way of a bridge.

Jose, muchas gracias!