The Gold Tower, Seville

The Gold Tower of Sevillle was one of the last contributions from the Almohade period in Seville. It formed part of the last wall of defence that ran from the Alcázar Palace to the river.

Some believe that the tower was given its name because of the sun´s reflection off the gold tiles that once covered the dome. Others argue that the reason for the name is the fact that all the gold coming from the new world was guarded in this tower and that an other tower existed on the other side of the river, being the Silver tower. In between the two towers there would have been a heavy chain preventing any ship to pass unnoticed.

There is also a story that associates the Gold Tower with the hair colour of a beautiful damsel who King Don Pedro locked up in the tower while her husband was away at war.

Origins of the gold tower

Built in the first third of the 13th Century, this tower has twelve sides. Large chains used to be connected from the masonry base of the tower to other side of the river and acted as a protective entranceway to the port. The highest part of the tower was added by Sebastian Vander Borcht in 1760.

The Gold tower nowadays

Today it is a naval museum which engravings, letters, models, antique navigation instruments and historical documents. In this museum we also find information on the prestigious naval history of Seville, the importance of the Guadalquivir River and the paths of numerous famous navigators.