The Bella Escondida tower is the only lookout tower (of the hundreds) in Cádiz with an octagonal floor plan. It is located on top of the house at number 13 Calle José but as it’s name suggests, it can’t be seen from the street. “Escondida” in English means “hidden”.
If you want to see this tower then visit the rooftop bar of the hotel las Cortes de Cádiz from where you can get a great view whilst enjoying a coffee, beer or glass of wine. (Which is, incidentally, also a fine hotel to stay in!)
Search for guided tours and activities in Cádiz here: https://visitingcadiz.com/guided-tours-and-activities-in-cadiz/
It is said that this tower was built not only to watch for the ships arriving from the Indies but also to show the love a father had for his daughter refelected in the beautiful facade of the tower. She was secluded in the convent in the adjacent street but from her room she could see the tower and know that her father loved her.
The tower itself is different from the other towers scattered throughout the historic center of the city due its octagonal floor plan with columns and pilasters. It has four floors, small balconies and its location makes it impossible to see from the street. It is also peculiar in its baroque style, decoration of polychrome tiles and ceramic pinnacles as well as its Mudejar-inspired geometric drawings.
This tower was called the Bella Escondida by the now deceased local journalist Bartolomé Llompart. (Considered by many Gaditanos to be the unofficial chronicler of the city). In one of the articles that he wrote for the newspaper Diario de Cádiz, he gave an account of the discovery made whilst walking down the street called José de Toro. A building had been demolished leaving a “grande view of this strange tower that few had ever seen.” Many people came to see the tower after his article was published but very soon a new building was constructed on the old site once again obscuring the tower from view.
La Bella Escondida Cádiz: The Hidden Baroque Tower with a Romantic Legend
La Bella Escondida is a beautifully ornate 18th-century watchtower hidden behind the rooftops of Cádiz. Built in the Baroque style with Mudejar touches, it was once used to spot ships returning from the Indies. Its name, meaning “the hidden beauty,” comes from the fact that it can’t be seen from street level — only from select viewpoints.
The best view of the Bella Escondida is from the rooftop bar of Hotel Las Cortes de Cádiz, located nearby on Calle San Francisco. From there, visitors can admire the tower’s distinctive octagonal shape, colourful tiles, and elegant pinnacles while enjoying a coffee, beer, or glass of wine. A lovely experience at sunset!
Unlike other Cádiz watchtowers, the Bella Escondida was built within a dense part of the old town, surrounded by taller buildings. Its placement on a private house at 13 Calle José and the later reconstruction of neighbouring buildings have kept it largely out of sight — giving it an air of mystery that matches its name.
The tower stands out for its octagonal design, Baroque ornamentation, and Mudejar-inspired geometric decoration. Small balconies and ceramic pinnacles add to its charm, while polychrome tiles reflect the craftsmanship typical of Cádiz’s maritime prosperity. Its design differs sharply from the city’s more traditional square watchtowers.
Local lore says the tower was built by a father for his daughter, who lived in a nearby convent. From her window, she could see the tower and feel her father’s love across the rooftops. Whether fact or romantic tale, it remains one of Cádiz’s most touching stories — adding emotional depth to the tower’s beauty.
The name was coined by Bartolomé Llompart, a beloved local journalist often called the “unofficial chronicler” of Cádiz. He revealed the tower’s existence in an article for Diario de Cádiz after spotting it when a nearby building was demolished. His story briefly made the hidden tower visible to the public before it was concealed once again.
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