Towers and Castles of the Ebro Delta and the Alfacs Bay

This article examines the formation of the defensive network of the lower Ebro River and the Alfacs Bay from the Andalusian period to the end of the 16th century. Medieval castles, possessions of military-religious orders, rural watchtowers, and Philip II's coastal defense program are compared. Corsair attacks are analyzed in connection with the settlements and territories protected by nearby fortifications. Special attention is paid to changes in the delta's coastline and the distinctions between preserved monuments, later plans, and reconstructions.