Torre Mulinazzo, Coastal defense tower in Cinisi, Italy
Torre Mulinazzo is a coastal defense tower standing alone between Punta Praiola and Caletta di Terra near Palermo airport, with a sloping stone base and precisely cut edges. The interior features a large vaulted room, a fireplace, and terracotta pipes integrated into the walls.
Construction began in 1552 under Viceroy Juan de Vega as part of Sicily's coastal defense system. In 1578 the architect Tiburzio Spannocchi ordered structural modifications that raised the building and altered its original design.
The tower contains engineering features typical of 16th-century Sicily, with a large vaulted room and a fireplace connected to terracotta pipes for collecting rainwater. These details show how people adapted structures to local conditions and available resources.
The tower sits on state property managed by aviation authorities, which limits public access to the interior. Visitors can observe the exterior from nearby paths and coastal areas, but cannot enter the building.
The tower was originally built with a truncated cone-shaped base but was later transformed into a square structure. The original foundation was cleverly kept and incorporated into the new shape during this redesign.
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