Carabona Tower facts for kids
The Carabona Tower, also known as the Carabona Farmhouse, is a very old and important building in Burriana, Spain. It's considered a special protected historical site. You can find it near the “Camí del Palmeral” road, not far from the “Camí Vell de Valencia” road. The Valencian government officially recognized it as a heritage site on December 4, 2002.
This tower is actually an old farmhouse that was built a long time ago, between the 13th and 18th centuries. It started during the time when Muslims lived in Spain. Back then, people needed strong, fortified farmhouses like this to protect their farms outside the main towns.
History of Carabona Tower
Carabona was once called “Alberg.” It was the main town in the area of Burriana before the Christian Reconquest. This was a time when Christian kingdoms took back land from Muslim rule in Spain.
After the Christians conquered the area, King James I of Aragon first tried to give Carabona to two brothers, Leonardo and Juan de Ager, in 1219. But this gift didn't happen.
Years later, in 1233, during a big battle for Burriana, King James I gave Carabona again. This time, he gave it to a military group called the Order of Saint George of Alfama. Another king, James II of Aragon, confirmed this gift in 1307. This Order of Saint George had some challenges. Even though it started in 1201, the Pope didn't officially approve it until 1373. Later, it joined with another group called the Order of Montesa, which caused more changes.
After the Order of Saint George joined the Order of Montesa in 1400, Carabona remained under the control of Montesa. Later, in the 1500s, Carabona became the property of Martín de Viciana. He bought it along with the town of Nules. This is written in an old book from 1590, found in the Nules town archives.
Later records from 1775 show that Margarita Llorens owned the farm. She got it from her father, Bautista Llorens. He had bought it for 4,000 pounds from a group called the Fathers of Remedio of Valencia. Over many years, the farmhouse changed hands several times. Today, the town council of Burriana owns the Carabona Tower.
What Carabona Tower Looks Like
The tower is a rectangular building. It measures about 10.95 meters long and 6.10 meters wide. It stands about 9.20 meters tall and has three floors. The roof is sloped, with curved tiles at the edges. Inside, a vaulted staircase connects the three floors.
At first glance, it might seem like the tower was once smaller. However, the way the strong stone blocks are placed at the corners shows this is unlikely. It would mean the original tower was almost completely taken apart, which isn't usually how old buildings are changed.
The building was not built all at once. Different parts were added over a long time. The first part, including the arched doorway at the front, was built in the 13th century. But other parts, like the narrow windows for shooting arrows, the pillar on the top floor, and the roof, were added much later. This happened around the 18th century. In 1755, the tower was changed into a farmhouse. At this time, four homes were added next to it, and the tower was rebuilt.
The ground floor of the farmhouse was designed for rural life. The kitchen and living area were in the same room. This room was also connected to the stables where animals were kept. The bedrooms were on the upper floors. On the staircase leading to the bedrooms, people found signs of what might have been an old fireplace.
One bedroom at the front of the tower has a balcony door with a wooden railing. It also has a small window that is now blocked up from the inside. The room at the back has a higher ceiling and three small windows. The staircase to the second floor was built much later than the first one. It looks like it was added in, rather than being part of the original design.
The Carabona Tower is part of a group of buildings. This includes the tower itself, the four homes built next to it in a traditional style, a large brick wall, and the remains of other buildings that were once attached to the tower.
In 2002, the town council of Burriana started to restore the Carabona Tower. It was in danger of falling down. An architect named Francisco Taberner led the project. The plan was to fix the foundations, walls, floors, and roofs. The goal was to keep the tower looking as original as possible, even with the new repairs. For example, any new supports were hidden. The only planned visible change was to replace the staircase to the second floor with a new wooden one.
The repairs to make the foundation stronger were done carefully. The aim was to affect the outside of the tower as little as possible. This was especially important for the special stone blocks at its corners.
See also
In Spanish: Torre de Carabona para niños
