Torre de Francisco de Asís

Torre de Francisco de Asís is a 19th-century neomedieval fortress built between 1862 and 1877, named after the king consort of Queen Isabel II and designed in 1865 by engineer Mendicuti. The circular tower of impressive height features two floors, a cistern, a battery, and a central staircase, surrounded by a dry moat with machicolations and crenellations. Constructed from concrete, lime, masonry, solid brick, and rubblework, it was engineered to house approximately 40 military personnel. Today, the tower serves as an observation post for migratory birds, leveraging its strategic location in a major avian transit zone with expansive views across Ceuta and toward Morocco, making it valuable for ornithological research and conservation efforts.