Torre-fuerte is a squat tower in the shape of a
parallelogram, 14 meters high, surrounded by a wall located near El Playazo
between the mining center of Rodalquilar and the beach known as Playazo de
Rodalquilar (these places are now part of the Natural Park of Cabo de
Gata-Nijar). It was built in the second decade of the 16th century by Francisco
de Vargas Minister of the Treasury during the reign of Ferdinand of Aragon, for
his daughter Giovanna la Pazza and of his nephew Charles, to defend them from
the barbarian pirates (Turks and Algerians) the mines of alum -
"jarosita" or "alumbre" (a mineral consisting of an iron
and potassium sulfate used as a mordent for fissure the colors in the tent,
tannery, parchment codes), whose exploitation he had obtained as a concession.
At that time other alum deposits were exploited in the area of Mazarron in
Murcia (the region bordering Almeria) and in Tolfa, near Civitavecchia (a papal
monopoly). This historic tower is used as a set in "For a Few Dollars
More" (1965) to represent the exterior of the abandoned Church, of Indio’s
band (Gian Maria Volonte); due to scenic needs, a false façade is built on the
front side of the tower with a curved crown and a single window. In the movie
"Duck You Sucker" (1971) The tower of Los Alumbres represents an old
Mexican mission, (in a nocturnal sequence) the German master of the mine and
some soldiers, who move in to the structure before an explosion is caused by
Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger) for this sequence to the right of the tower a bell
tower was built, which collapses in the explosion itself.
“For a Few Dollars More” (1965)
“Duck You Sucker” (1971)
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