Tavira Tower – views and the Camera Obscura

We had been told we must visit the Tavira Tower in Cadiz, so… we went. Not really knowing what to expect, we entered a tall doorway and came into a reception area. The visit includes access to the tower (by stair), a few small information panels and artwork on landings, and a virtual tour of the city using their camera obscura.

At only 45 meters above sea level, the Torre Tavira is the highest point in Cadiz. (The cathedral also claims the highest tower, but I don’t have my engineering toolkit with me!) The staircases were not too onerous, and the artwork lining the stairs was an interesting mix, mainly focussed on the city of Cadiz.

By the time we reached the top we had read every information board on the way up, and still had several minutes to kill before the camera obscura was opened up. We passed the time reading and re-reading information about the different styles of towers, and the how the history of Cadiz gave birth to the 120-odd towers that dot the old town — and checking the panoramic views of the rooftops of Cadiz. Information was displayed in English, Spanish, and German.

The camera obscura experience was well narrated, with a live guide controlling the central viewing screen and a dozen or so people standing around it. The narration was in Spanish and English, but the long wait times while material was translated was made up for by the views of the city, birds over the water, and people walking and driving through the streets.

The Torre Tavira offers a very accessible bite of history, unsurpassed views, and a rather unique experience: seeing the city through a camera obscura. Good value at €5 per person, but probably not when visibility is poor.