Torre de Benavites

The Torre de Benavites, also known as the Torre de la Señoría or Casa del Marqués de Bélgida, is a medieval defensive tower located in the centre of the village of Benavites, in the Campo de Morvedre comarca of the province of Valencia, Spain. It was declared a national historic-artistic monument on 9 January 1981 by Royal Decree 213/81, published in the BOE on 18 February 1981, and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural with code 46.12.052-004, annotation R-I-51-0004465. Unlike most defensive towers from the same period, it is in excellent condition. It is the most emblematic building in Benavites and the Valle de Segó. Before its restoration, the tower faced the courtyard of the Casa Palacio and the Calle Mayor. Its dating is uncertain, and it may originally have been a Muslim watchtower serving a defensive and communication role midway between the fortified towns of Almenara to the north and Sagunto to the south.