Torre Lupara, Medieval tower in Fonte Nuova, Italy

Torre Lupara is a square stone tower from the 11th century in Fonte Nuova, Italy, built with bricks, flint, and limestone materials. Its interior contains multiple levels connected by wooden walkways, with numerous wall holes marking where beams once supported the structure.

Built in the 11th century as a defensive outpost, the tower served local noble families monitoring traffic on the Via Nomentana toward Mentana. It formed part of the region's medieval defense network.

The tower is also called Torre San Sebastiano, a name that survives alongside Torre Lupara. The estate that surrounded it, Tor Lupara, took its name from the tower and was as old as the tower itself. The church of Santa Margherita, which owned the castle, stood outside the walls on Via Valle dei Corsi; its memory remains in the Santa Margherita fountain.

The southern entrance was walled during the last restorations, so the tower is viewed from outside along Via della Torre. Look for the rectangular windows and, on the west side, stretches of masonry. The many beam holes are still used by pigeons for nesting.

The tower is nicknamed torre tricolore because its masonry rises in bands: flint at the base, a strip of limestone flakes, then red bricks mixed with flint and small tuff blocks. The holes left by the wooden floor beams are still used by pigeons for nesting.