Museo de Heráldica de la Corona de Aragón (Torre de Salamanca)

About the museum

The Torre de Salamanca was built in 1875, during the Third Carlist War, commissioned by General Manuel de Salamanca y Negrete. It formed part of an optical telegraph network that watched over the fords of the Ebro and also served as a blockhouse for riflemen. Ashlar blocks from the former Hospitaller convent and from the Castillo del Compromiso were reused in its construction. It came too late to fulfil its function, because the war was drawing to a close and optical telegraphy was in decline, so it was barely used.

After decades of neglect, the Diputación Provincial (provincial council) restored it in 1985 and a spiral staircase was installed inside. In 1998 an exhibition on heraldry and military orders was set up there, which gave the building the name Museo de Heráldica Institucional de la Corona de Aragón. The tower was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (asset of cultural interest) in 2006 and is owned by Caspe Town Council.

The exhibition explains the heraldic symbols of the Crown of Aragon, such as the four red bars on a gold field, the royal crown and the winged dragon of Peter the Ceremonious (Pedro el Ceremonioso), and displays old books with decorated coats of arms. The four bastions present the military orders linked to the Crown (Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Order of Malta and the Templars), with their history and costume. The tower also hosts an exhibition on the optical telegraph towers of the Bajo Aragón.

Highlights

• Carlist blockhouse of 1875 with a four-leaf clover ground plan
• Exhibition on the institutional heraldry of the Crown of Aragon
• Bastions devoted to the Orders of St John, Malta and the Temple
• Exhibition on the optical telegraph towers of the Bajo Aragón
• Terrace with views of Caspe and the Ebro valley

Permanent exhibitions

• Heráldica institucional de la Corona de Aragón – Exhibition on the heraldic symbols of the Crown of Aragon and the military orders linked to it, with old books and panels in the bastions.
• Torres ópticas del Bajo Aragón – Exhibition on the network of optical telegraph towers of the Third Carlist War in the Bajo Aragón.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Ayuntamiento de Caspe

Admission & discounts

The 45-minute guided tour costs €3.20 per person. Tickets are bought at the tower itself or on the Castillos y Palacios platform.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The interior of the tower is reached by a spiral staircase.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The tower stands on a hill on the outskirts of Caspe. The Tourist Office is on Calle Zaragoza, s/n (no street number).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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