Torre del Oro Colouring Pages and Drawing Guide

The Torre del Oro is one of the most popular historic buildings drawn in Spanish schools, and it makes complete sense: its silhouette is instantly recognizable and breaks down into very simple geometric shapes. Here you will find free printable colouring sheets and an easy step-by-step drawing tutorial.

How to draw the Torre del Oro step by step

The secret is thinking of the tower as three stacked geometric building blocks, getting narrower as they go up. If you establish the basic proportions in the first steps, the rest comes together easily.

Step 1: The foundation rectangle

Draw a vertical rectangle that is roughly twice as tall as it is wide. This represents the first Almohad tier, which will take up a little more than half of the total height of your drawing.

Step 2: The second tier

Directly on top, draw a second rectangle that is noticeably narrower—about two-thirds the width of the bottom block—and considerably shorter. Center it carefully over the first tier.

Step 3: The cylindrical lantern

On top of the second tier, draw a small, narrow rectangle. This is the 18th-century circular top tier, so slightly round off the two upper corners.

Step 4: The golden dome

Crown the tower with a neat semicircle dome. On the very peak, add a small vertical spire with a sphere or a weather vane. This little crown gives the tower its iconic silhouette.

Step 5: The battlements

Along the top rim of the first and second tiers, sketch a row of small alternating square notches (crenels), like the teeth of a comb. These are the fortress battlements.

Step 6: Windows and river texture

Add two or three narrow, rounded arch windows on each tier. Draw light horizontal stone masonry lines across the wall faces. Finally, finish by drawing wavy water lines at the base: the Guadalquivir river.

Quick facts for school projects

If you are completing a school report or homework sheet alongside your drawing, here are the essential verified facts:

What colours should you use?

For realistic, authentic results:

• The fortress walls: Warm sand, light ochre, or golden beige. Avoid stark white.
• The dome: Golden yellow or mustard yellow.
• The river: Blue-green rather than bright royal blue. The Guadalquivir has an earthy greenish tint.
• The sky: Warm orange and rose-pink if depicting sunset, which is when the golden walls shine brightest.

Ideas for classroom and art projects

• Geometry: Use the 12-sided design to study regular polygons: counting sides, drawing a dodecagon, and comparing it to the 8-sided Torre de la Plata.
• History timeline: Place the tower along a medieval timeline between the Almohad period and the 1248 Christian conquest of Seville.
• Scale models: Three cardboard cylinders of decreasing diameters paired with a styrofoam half-sphere make a surprisingly accurate 3D model.

Check out our full guide to all historical uses of the tower for school projects.