Description
The Tribute Tower is an important place in the Marteña architecture and in the panoramic image of Martos. To this day he has lost the raison d'être of defending the city but helps us to understand what it was one day: the capital of the Calatrava Endowment. It is the most significant element of the defensive architecture of the lower fortress of Martos. It is a milestone in its location as it is visible from the different accesses to Martos: roads of Alcaudete, Jaén, Monte Lope Alvarez and Santiago de Calatrava.
The Tower was built by the demand of the Order of Calatrava in the 14th century, serving at the same time as a watchtower and a headquarters of government. It has a square floor, 10 x 10 m. and consists of a basement, ground floor, first floor and roof. It is 25 m high from the basement and 22 m above the street level.
The Tower of Tribute is built with irregular stone armchairs except for corners, which are embellished and reinforced by regular armchairs. The basement, which was used as an aljibe, is only accessible through a trap on the ground floor. To collect the rainwater from the roof it had a conduction of ceramic tubes, and so they were stored in the aljibe.
Access to the ground floor is made from the outside. This plant is covered by an ojival vault. The first floor is accessed from the inside by a narrow staircase led on the ground floor; this floor is the main stay of the Tower and is covered by a dome made from a brick row approach, supported by pechines, also brick. Finally, when you reach the roof you get a great visibility and control of the city. This Tower was restored and is currently a visitor reception centre.
Is part of
