The Arms Tower (Granada)

 tower, fortification, listed building / architectural heritage

The Arms Tower (Torre de las Armas) was already so called by the Moors and it is located on the north ramparts, creating an angle with the lower ramparts of the Alcazaba. This tower was used as a way of communication between the Alhambra and the city through the neighbourhood of the Almanzora.
The entrance to the tower, which is older than the Justice Tower (Torre de la Justicia), has a pointed horseshoe arch made of brick and stone imposts, adorned with festoon with black, white and green glazed pieces. There are two other similar arches and the last of them is connected with a section divided by horseshoe arches with benches for the guards. Two other arches are connected with the lower walk by the ramparts of the Alcazaba and with the exit of the tower, which has two other pointed horseshoe arches made of bricks.
The Gate of Arms is one of the four main official gates of the Alhambra and the most commonly used by the people of Granada for access into the fortress. Until the end of the 14th century it was the only gate leading directly to the centre of Granada. The other three gates were located in the outer wall of the city. It is also one of the main structures built during the Nasrid period in the 13th century, and is architecturally and ornamentally related to the traditional Almohade concept of protective L-shaped passageways.