Le Torre
Along Puglia 865 km coastline is about 150 historical watchtower that were mostly built in the 16th Century. They were built as an earl-warning system against attacks from Ottoman fleets and Saracen pirates. Each tower was placed within sight of the next tower. Signal to the next tower with smoke by day and fires by night as well as sounding bells and horns. Some had accomodation for soilders.
An interesting way to see the coast is to visit the towers, which stand in various states from total ruin, to restored.
Select image for a larger view.
1. Torre Pozzella, located near Ostuni, it is a visual lookout and communication post, is a 16th Century (1565-1569) Aragonese watchtower that was commissioned by Bona Sforza, Duches of Bari and daughter if Isabella of Aragon. The coastal tower was to protect local populations from frequent invasions and attack by Turkish fleets. The tower was abandoned in the 19th Century when it no longer served a military or defensive purpose.
2. Torre San Vito, this watchtower, built of linestone in the 17th Century at the request of the monks who lived in an Abbey nearby as well as the coast from attachs by the Turks. The tower was to spot attacks and protect the Abbey.
3. Torre Cintola, located south of Monopoli, to protect the coastline from Saracen pirate incursions.
4. Torre Santa Sabina, located in the municipality of Carovignom the area was a port that handled traffic between Greece and Italy. It is a star-shaped toer built at the end of the 15th Century as a control tower for the small port by the feudal lords of Carovigno. In the 16th Century it became property of the state and took on the same function as the other towers - to warn of enemy attachs, in particular Turkish incursions. In 1915 it was ppurchaed by the Dentice di Frasso family who renovated it and sold it to a private individual.
5. Torre Mattorelle, a short drive from Brindisi, stands on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic. Built in the 16th Century the circculr based was designed to withstand cannon fire.
