Guide to Andalucia > Destinations > La Herradura > Outstanding places

La Herradura. Outstanding places

If La Herradura stands out historically for any particular reason, it’s for a famous shipwreck on the 19thOctober 1562. An expedition sent byPhilip II from Malaga to Naples was surprised by a tremendous storm. The squadron, captained by Don Juan de Mendoza, went to take refuge there when they were caught unawares a change in the wind.

Around 5,000 people are believed to have perished in the incident.

The waters here still hide countless reminders of this tragic incident, making La Herradura a must-visit place for diving fanatics.

As mentioned previously, La Herradura is the second largest population centre in Almuñecar; here are some of the monuments really worth a visit:

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Castillo de La Herradura (Castle)

Located near the Herradura beach around150 metres from the shore, near to the Almuñecar municipal highway.

It dates back to the eighteenth century, around 1768, and was built to keep a watch on the coastline, though it was also used as accommodation for the garrison, servants and artillery. Its main objective was to safeguard the area and prevent any unwanted disembarkation.

The original construction was a tower of refuge, while the castle was built later, to help protect the bay from corsairs.

It is currently used as a barracks for the Civil Guard.

Torre del MoNje (Tower of the Monk)

2 kilometres from Almuñecar, on the Jete road, we find this fort, of Roman origin.

Built in the first century, it was first used as a funerary pantheon. It has one square floor with no outside access and the ashes of the dead were supposedly placed here.