Torre de Balerma stands on the seafront of El Ejido, Almería, part of an 18th-century coastal defense system commissioned by Charles III to protect against corsairs and maritime threats. Built under engineer Tomás Warluzel's direction starting in 1752, the tower was armed with cannons and connected by a masonry staircase and drawbridge. Throughout the 19th century, it served the carabineros for coastal surveillance. Declared a National Monument in 1949 and a Cultural Heritage Asset in 1985, the well-preserved tower remains freely accessible and exemplifies Spain's sophisticated maritime fortification strategy during the early modern period.
