Torre de La Illeta is a 16th-century watchtower built between 1554 and 1557 in El Campello, Alicante, to defend the Mediterranean coast against Berber pirate raids. Commissioned by the Duke of Maqueda and Viceroy of Valencia, this conical structure with six-metre base diameter served as a key node in a sophisticated coastal defense network using fire and smoke signals to communicate threats to neighbouring towers and the mainland. The tower's strategic positioning along the Valencian coast exemplifies Renaissance military architecture adapted to maritime security. Designated a Cultural Heritage Site in 1996, it remains an important landmark offering Mediterranean views and insights into the region's defensive maritime heritage.
