What role did Torre de Les Caletes play in Benidorm’s history, and how did the people who guarded this coastal fortification live day by day? An upcoming exhibition unpacks the life of those who watched the sea from this vantage point. Cataloged as Punta del Cavall, it is recognized as an Area of Cultural Interest (BIC).
The Historic Heritage Department of Benidorm City Council, now based at the Museu Bocal del Calvari, describes these keepers as guardians of the sea. Torre de les Caletes is the focus of an exhibition organized by the Alicante State Assembly and the Alicante Archaeological Museum (MARQ), centering on the 16th century watchtower and the people who tended it.
New life for the watchtower
In this context, the materials on display come from the BIC catalog and were recovered during 2017 and 2018 restoration efforts. Ana Pellicer, the district councilor, notes that the exhibition’s strongest draw lies in the broader historical setting and the tower’s evolving role across centuries. Visitors gain insight into the artifacts uncovered during rescue and consolidation work led by archaeological teams.
Preparations for the Benidorm exhibit show the community’s interest in preserving local memory. The event presents objects found during the consolidation project funded by the Provincial Coastal Service, which began in 2017. This ongoing restoration work helps ensure the tower’s survival while revealing how rangers lived at the site, including details about clothing, weaponry, and even daily food practices uncovered by MARQ’s researchers.
By returning these materials to Benidorm temporarily, the project completes a chapter started when the coastal service continued the rock consolidation that supports the tower. The recovered items have been processed, analyzed, and cataloged by MARQ, offering archaeologists a clearer picture of life around Torre de Les Caletes decades ago.
Traces of old watchmen
What visitors will see includes textiles such as espadrilles, remnants of pottery used to store water, and ivy fragments that were used to light bonfires. These elements helped sound warnings against pirate incursions along the shore and allowed the firing of lead bullets from defensive rifles. The exhibition weaves these tangible traces into a narrative about daily vigilance and coastal defense.
Restoration work at Torre de Les Caletes continues to reveal remnants of fabric and other materials belonging to former keepers. The public can observe how conservation efforts have uncovered the intimate details of life on the tower, shedding light on routines, tools, and shelter at the edge of the sea.
The Mayor of Historic Heritage highlights MARQ’s meticulous care in presenting the exhibition. He notes that the design is highly visual and that dissemination, along with audience interaction, is addressed in a thoughtful way. The display will travel as part of a broader initiative about the region’s fortifications, underscoring the significance of coastal defenses in Alicante. The Torre de Les Caletes opens to the public this Friday at 19:00, inviting visitors to step into a submerged history of watchfulness and resilience.
[attribution: MARQ, Alicante Provincial Coastal Service, and Benidorm City Council Historic Heritage Department]