Coastal towers in Salento

Salento is dotted with watchtowers sighting since always has been the subject of numerous attacks by different populations of the Mediterranean. We do not know what was the first time when these towers were built, some might even refer to Norman, but there is no supporting evidence. For the present appearance, most of the coastal towers still present are to report to the 15th and 16th century.

Many of these towers are now in very poor conditions.

This is the list in a clockwise direction from the province of Brindisi and culminating in the Province of Taranto.

Province of Brindisi edit

Image Tower Name City Base Section Build Year
Torre Egnazia Fasano
Torre Canne Fasano
Torre San Leonardo village Pilone, Ostuni
Torre Villanova Ostuni
  Torre Pozzelle Ostuni
  Torre Santa Sabina Carovigno four-pointed star
  Torre Guaceto Carovigno square
Torre Testa Brindisi
Torre Penna Brindisi
Torre Cavallo Brindisi
Torre Mattarelle Brindisi
Torre San Gennaro Torchiarolo

Province of Lecce edit

Image Tower Name City Base Section Build Year
Torre Specchiolla Lecce, fraz. Casalabate
40°30′22.421″N 18°6′56.012″E / 40.50622806°N 18.11555889°E / 40.50622806; 18.11555889
square 16th century
Torre Rinalda Lecce
40°28′55″N 18°9′30″E / 40.48194°N 18.15833°E / 40.48194; 18.15833
square 16th century
Torre Chianca Leccev
40°27′34″N 18°12′51″E / 40.45944°N 18.21417°E / 40.45944; 18.21417
square 16th century
Torre Veneri Lecce
40°25′7″N 18°16′9″E / 40.41861°N 18.26917°E / 40.41861; 18.26917
16th century
Torre San Cataldo Lecce
Torre Specchia Ruggeri Vernole
Torre San Foca Melendugno
40°18′7.664″N 18°24′18.238″E / 40.30212889°N 18.40506611°E / 40.30212889; 18.40506611
square 1568
  Torre Roca Vecchia Melendugno
40°17′18.348″N 18°25′40.102″E / 40.28843000°N 18.42780611°E / 40.28843000; 18.42780611
square 1568
  Torre dell'Orso Melendugno
40°30′22.421″N 18°6′56.012″E / 40.50622806°N 18.11555889°E / 40.50622806; 18.11555889
square 1568
Torre Sant'Andrea Melendugno
Torre Fiumicelli Otranto
40°13′29.6508″N 18°27′51.6636″E / 40.224903000°N 18.464351000°E / 40.224903000; 18.464351000
Torre Santo Stefano Otranto
40°10′59″N 18°28′23″E / 40.18306°N 18.47306°E / 40.18306; 18.47306
square 1567
Torre del Serpe Otranto
40°8′30.754″N 18°30′18.900″E / 40.14187611°N 18.50525000°E / 40.14187611; 18.50525000
Torre dell'Orte or dell'Orto Otranto 1565
Torre Palascia Otranto
40°6′26.72″N 18°31′11.56″E / 40.1074222°N 18.5198778°E / 40.1074222; 18.5198778
  Torre Sant'Emiliano Otranto
40°5′26.5099″N 18°29′46.8100″E / 40.090697194°N 18.496336111°E / 40.090697194; 18.496336111
circle 16th century
Torre Badisco Otranto
Torre Minervino Santa Cesarea Terme
40°3′57.899″N 18°28′47.910″E / 40.06608306°N 18.47997500°E / 40.06608306; 18.47997500
circle
Torre Specchia di Guardia Santa Cesarea Terme
40°2′41″N 18°28′14″E / 40.04472°N 18.47056°E / 40.04472; 18.47056
Torre Santa Cesarea Santa Cesarea Terme
40°2′41″N 18°28′14″E / 40.04472°N 18.47056°E / 40.04472; 18.47056
circle
Torre Miggiano Santa Cesarea Terme
40°1′49.584″N 18°27′0.252″E / 40.03044000°N 18.45007000°E / 40.03044000; 18.45007000
circle 16th century
  Torre Diso Castro
39°59′49.7620″N 18°25′3.6718″E / 39.997156111°N 18.417686611°E / 39.997156111; 18.417686611
16th century
  Torre Capo Lupo Diso circle 15th century
Torre Andrano or Porto di Ripa Andrano circle 16th century
Torre del Sasso Tricase
Torre di Porto Tricase Tricase
Torre Palane or Plane Tricase square
Torre Nasparo or Naspre or de Lissano Tiggiano 1565
Torre Specchia Grande Corsano circle
Torre del Ricco Corsano
39°52′2.82″N 18°23′37.96″E / 39.8674500°N 18.3938778°E / 39.8674500; 18.3938778
Torre di Porto Novaglie Gagliano del Capo
Torre Montelungo Gagliano del Capo
Torre Santa Maria di Leuca Gagliano del Capo
  Torre dell'Omomorto or Uomini Morti Castrignano del Capo 1555
Torre Marchiello Castrignano del Capo
39°47′56″N 18°19′55″E / 39.79889°N 18.33194°E / 39.79889; 18.33194
16th century
Torre San Gregorio Patu
Torre Vado Morciano di Leuca circle 16th century
Torre Pali Salve circle 16th century
Torre Fiumicelli or Torre Mozza Ugento circle 16th century
  Torre San Giovanni Ugento
39°53′10.43″N 18°6′49.61″E / 39.8862306°N 18.1137806°E / 39.8862306; 18.1137806
octagon 1563
Torre Sinforo or Sinfono Alliste 16th century
Torre Suda Racale 16th century
Torre del Pizzo Gallipoli 16th century
Torre San Giovanni la Pedata Gallipoli
Torre Sabea Gallipoli 16th century
Torre Alto Lido Gallipoli 1565
  Torre del Fiume di Galatena (also called delle quattro colonne) Nardò square 17th century
Torre Santa Caterina Nardò 16th century
Torre Santa Maria dell'Alto Nardò 1569
Torre Uluzzo or Crustano Nardò 16th century
Torre dell'Inserraglio or Critò Nardò 1568
Torre Sant'Isidoro Nardò square 1565
Torre Squillace Nardò square 16th century
  Torre Cesarea Porto Cesareo
40°15′24.998″N 17°53′30.998″E / 40.25694389°N 17.89194389°E / 40.25694389; 17.89194389
square 1569
  Torre Chianca Porto Cesareo
40°16′18.001″N 17°52′14.002″E / 40.27166694°N 17.87055611°E / 40.27166694; 17.87055611
square 16th century
  Torre Lapillo Porto Cesareo
40°16′51″N 17°50′25″E / 40.28083°N 17.84028°E / 40.28083; 17.84028
square 1550
  Torre Castiglione Porto Cesareo
40°17′12.998″N 17°49′9.998″E / 40.28694389°N 17.81944389°E / 40.28694389; 17.81944389

Province of Taranto edit

Image Tower Name City Base Section Build Year
  Torre Colimena Manduria square
Torre Saline Manduria
Torre San Pietro in Bevagna Manduria four-pointed star
Torre Borraco Manduria
Torre Moline Maruggio
Torre Ovo Torricella
Torre Canneto Lizzano
Torre Zozzoli or Sgarrata administrative island of Taranto, between Pulsano and Lizzano
Torre Rossa or Sasso Taranto (destroyed)
Torre Castelluccia Pulsano
Torre Saturo Leporano
Torre Lama Taranto
Torre Capo San Vito Taranto
40°24′45″N 17°12′11″E / 40.41250°N 17.20306°E / 40.41250; 17.20306
Torre Rondinella Taranto
Torre Tara Taranto
Torre Saline or Lo Lato Castellaneta
Torre Mattoni Ginosa

See also edit