Menorca: Castell de Sant Nicolau

The tower of Castell de Sant Nicolau is a historic 17th-century coastal defense structure located at the northern entrance to the port of Ciutadella de Menorca on the western coast of the island. It was built around 1680 by Spanish to protect the harbor from pirate attacks and invasions, a persistent threat in the Mediterranean at the time. The tower is octagonal which allowed for wide fields of fire, with thick stone walls, a moat, and a single entrance featuring a bas-relief of the Aragon shield. The coastline around it is also very picturesque, with a lighthouse just across the bay.