Bias Tower 1

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Faro > Olhão > Moncarapacho > Arte Nova

Location

The Bias Tower 1 rises in the tranquility of the Art Nouveau area, in Moncarapacho, a parish in the municipality of Olhão. Positioned on a slight plateau and in an isolated rural environment, this tower offers a privileged perspective over the coastline. Its elevation of 27 meters provides an excellent field of vision, allowing one to see the bars and channels of the Ria Formosa, as well as the islands of Fuseta and Armona, painting a coastal landscape of singular beauty.

It is located approximately one kilometer west of the village of Fuseta, enjoying a strategic position that, in times, was essential for the vigilance of the Algarve coast. The site, though discreet, proves to be a remarkable observation point of the natural surroundings, characterized by sand islands and the channels of the Ria.

Historical Legacy

The Bias Tower, also known as Atalaia de Bias, is part of an ancient network of military fortifications that stretched along the Algarve coast. These watchtowers, built between the 12th and 16th centuries, had as their main objective to protect the lands and riparian populations from threats arriving from the sea. The construction of Bias Tower 1, in particular, is dated 1549, erected by order of King John III.

Its primary function was the attentive vigilance of the area comprised between the Fuseta bar and the Armona bar, controlling the important Regueira dos Barcos Channel. This tower is, therefore, a testimony to the Algarve coastal defense and the complexity of the network of medieval and 16th-century watchtowers that dotted this region, being a relevant landmark in the military history of the Algarve.

Architecture and Appearance

With a circular plan, Bias Tower 1 is a characteristic example of the watchtowers of the era. Its relatively thick walls are built with irregular stone, joined by mortar, still preserving some vestiges of the original plaster. Although today it is partially demolished and its interior filled with rubble to a considerable height, the tower still stands, in its best-preserved area, at about 7.8 meters.

According to historical records, there was once an opening on the southeast face that possibly housed a plaque with the royal arms and an inscription alluding to its foundation by King John III, elements that, unfortunately, have been lost over time. The simplicity and robustness of its construction reflect its defensive purpose, designed to resist the elements and time.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt