The Old Tower of Oviedo was likely constructed in the late ninth century, as it shares similarities in construction to the holy chamber from that period. The tower has two distinct parts - the older, irregularly shaped bottom section with small windows, and the upper bell tower section with eight larger windows and arched columns. While its exact origins are undocumented, it is believed the primary purpose of the tower was to protect religious relics stored in the attached holy chamber from threats such as Norman or Muslim incursions.

1. Torre vieja de Oviedo.

2. DescriptionDescription
• Its construction although it is not documented is believedIts construction although it is not documented is believed
to be from the late ninth century, since the similarity withto be from the late ninth century, since the similarity with
the construction of the holy chamber indicates the samethe construction of the holy chamber indicates the same
period of construction.period of construction.
The tower is differentiated into two parts, the oldestThe tower is differentiated into two parts, the oldest
lower and upperlower and upper
Both parties belong to separate eras and styles. TheBoth parties belong to separate eras and styles. The
oldest, bottom, has an irregular rectangular structure,oldest, bottom, has an irregular rectangular structure,
with little windows until after the middle of the tower. Thewith little windows until after the middle of the tower. The
second part, later in date is a bell tower with twosecond part, later in date is a bell tower with two
windows on each side, a total of eight, topped by archeswindows on each side, a total of eight, topped by arches
on columns with capitals.on columns with capitals.

3. HistoryHistory
• Although its construction is notAlthough its construction is not
documented is believed to be fromdocumented is believed to be from
the late ninth century, since thethe late ninth century, since the
similarity with the construction ofsimilarity with the construction of
the holy chamber indicates thethe holy chamber indicates the
same period of construction . Itssame period of construction . Its
primary function is believed to beprimary function is believed to be
protective of the Norman orprotective of the Norman or
Muslim incursions from theft of theMuslim incursions from theft of the
relics that were kept in the Holyrelics that were kept in the Holy
camera attached to it.camera attached to it.

4. Floor of the buildingFloor of the building

5. Video andVideo and
geographical situationgeographical situation
• www.youtube.com/wawww.youtube.com/wa
tch?tch?
v=CE4WcmvQhrMv=CE4WcmvQhrM

6. Video andVideo and
geographical situationgeographical situation
• www.youtube.com/wawww.youtube.com/wa
tch?tch?
v=CE4WcmvQhrMv=CE4WcmvQhrM