Countries<Spain<Comunidad Valenciana<Chiva< Torre de telegrafía óptica de Chiva

Torre de telegrafía óptica de Chiva(Chiva)

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Description

The Chiva Optical Telegraphy Tower is an optical tower, with fusillades, which formed part of the line from Madrid to Valencia. The construction characteristics of the Chiva tower are a maximum height of around 8.5 metres, and exterior dimensions of 6.2 x 6.2 metres, while the interior dimensions are 4.3 x 4.3 metres. On the upper floor there are two windows and marks on the floor slabs. The walls are made of faced stone with lime mortar. Solid brick was used for the corner pieces, window openings and horizontal mouldings.

Optical telegraphy is an invention that dates back to the 18th century, the century of the Enlightenment. It was a technological advance of great importance, born in France, which facilitated the rapid transmission of news. In Spain, optical telegraph lines were not erected until the 1840s. For security reasons, this last type of telegraphy was discarded due to the danger of the cables being cut by bandits or insurgents.

These towers were built between 1848 and 1849 to set up a rapid messaging service that would represent a great revolution in 19th century postal communication between the capital and the outskirts of the country. This system allowed a message to be transmitted from the first to the last tower in just thirty minutes.

The Madrid-Valencia line began its construction in 1848 and its operation a year later with thirty towers.

Image of Torre de telegrafía óptica de Chiva