Torre Quebrada de Guadiaro, also known as Torre Vieja, is a 15th-century watchtower in San Roque, Cádiz, named for the dramatic lightning strike that split it in half at the beginning of the 16th century. Built as part of Algeciras Bay's defensive system to guard the Strait of Gibraltar, the tower served dual purposes as both a lookout against Barbary pirates and a refuge for shepherds. Following the tower's destruction by lightning, a Royal Decree mandated construction of the Torre Nueva de Guadiaro in 1516 to replace it. Today, the surviving half of the original tower is integrated into a coastal park, with restoration work completed in 2015 preserving approximately half of its original materials and architectural features.
