Torre del Campese, Circular watchtower in Giglio Campese, Italy
Torre del Campese is a circular watchtower standing on a rocky outcrop at the northern end of Campese Beach, built with three levels and surrounded by a defensive moat. Today it functions as a private residence, accessible by an external staircase and a small stone bridge.
The tower was built in the mid-16th century by Cosimo I de Medici to defend the western coast from Turkish pirates. Around 1700, Cosimo III made significant alterations, adding a chapel and quarters for the sentries who watched the waters.
The name comes from the nearby beach and the fishing village that was once monitored from this spot. Today, the chapel and living spaces inside show how sentries spent their daily lives watching the waters.
It is best to view this tower from a distance since it is a private residence and not open to public visits. The rocky location offers good photo opportunities and is easily visible from the nearby beach.
Inside the tower lies a large underground cistern designed to collect and store water during long periods of isolation. This construction shows how crucial it was for the structure to remain self-sufficient when cut off from outside supplies.
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