Torre de La Harina with a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex

The partially collapsed stone structure of Torre de La Harina stands amidst tall trees, surrounded by nature. The ruins, weathered and crumbling, suggest a history long forgotten, contrasted against the vibrant foliage of the forest.

Torre de La Harina is near Sabriego, in the municipality of Alcaudete. The name translates as “Flour Tower”. Why it is so-called is a mystery to me, as it is generally considered to have been a watchtower.

The Walk

This is a great walk for the dogs. I park up at the Paraje del Puente Palomillas, which is a nice picnic spot by the San Juan River. The walk to the tower is through a pleasant pine forest. The last part of the walk is quite steep, but the views are excellent once you reach the top.

The tower is cylindrical and of masonry construction, approximately 4.5 m in diameter. It is in a poor state of repair, as can be seen in the photographs.

Film Photo Details

I took all the photos using a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16 camera with Ilford HP5 film exposed at 400 ISO. Developer: Ilford Ilfotec LC29, 1+19, for 6,5 minutes @20C.

The photos were digitised using a Nikon Z6 mirrorless digital camera with a Tokina AT-X Pro Macro 100mm f2.8 D lens and processed using Capture One software.

I shot the photos mid-morning with bright sunlight and clear blue skies.

Film roll No 227

Click on any photo for a larger version.

A black-and-white landscape featuring a grassy hill with some trees and a stone ruin of Torre de La Harina partially visible in the background under a clear sky.
Torre de La Harina in the distance
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f3.5, GPS location
A black and white image of a rocky hillside with sparse vegetation, featuring the ruins of Torre de La Harina surrounded by tall pine trees. The scene conveys a serene, natural environment with a historical element.
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f16, GPS location
Ruins of Torre de La Harina stand among tall trees and grass, set against a stark grey sky. The scene captures the contrast between nature and historical remnants, evoking a sense of age and tranquility in a monochromatic landscape.
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/125 sec, f16, GPS location
A weathered stone tower stands amidst trees, surrounded by rocky terrain. The structure, partially collapsed, showcases ancient architecture, blending with the natural landscape in a monochrome setting.
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f16, GPS location
The historic stone ruin of Torre de La Harina stands amidst tall trees, surrounded by sparse vegetation, captured in black and white. The structure, partially overgrown, hints at a past era, evoking a sense of mystery and nature's reclamation of man-made forms.
Ruins of the Torre de La Harina Tower surrounded by forest
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f16, GPS location
The solitary stone Torre de La Harina stands among tall pine trees, surrounded by rocky terrain. The image captures the texture of the stones and the contrast of light and shadow in a black and white setting, evoking a sense of solitude and nature's beauty.
Ruined stone tower surrounded by pines
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f16, GPS location
A black and white image of a weathered stone tower amidst a wooded area, featuring tall trees and scattered logs on the ground, highlighting the passage of time and nature's embrace of man-made structures.
Close-up of the tower base
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/125 sec, f16, GPS location
A vintage black-and-white image of the weathered ruins of Torre de La Harina standing amidst tall trees, with sunlight filtering through the branches, highlighting the rugged texture of the tower and surrounding foliage.
Ruins of the Torre de La Harina watch tower
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/125 sec, f16, GPS location
A close-up of the top of the tower surrounded by trees, captured in black and white. The structure showcases a rough texture and historical architecture, with branches framing the top against the sky.
A close-up of the top of the tower
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/60 sec, f16, GPS location
A partially ruined stone structure rises amidst tall trees, capturing a sense of history and nature's reclaiming. The image is in black and white, emphasizing the texture of the stones and the interplay of light and shadow.
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/125 sec, f11, GPS location
A serene landscape in black and white featuring a rocky outcrop, tall trees, and rolling hills under a cloudy sky, conveying a peaceful natural setting.
Views from the top of the hill
Camera: Zeis Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 1:3.5 75mm, Exposure: 1/250 sec, f11, GPS location

Updates

This post was originally published on 27 January 2022, updated on 4 December 2024 and 26 October 2025.

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