Torre del Sasso, Defensive tower in Tricase, Italy
Torre del Sasso is a coastal watchtower located on Serra del Mito at 116 meters (381 feet) above sea level near Tricase. The stone structure sits on higher ground with views toward the Adriatic coastline and features a barrel-vaulted design.
The tower is documented from 1584 and was part of a chain of coastal defenses against Turkish pirate raids. It was built during a period when such fortifications protected the Salento shores from repeated attacks.
The tower shows how Renaissance military builders designed coastal defenses with its original barrel vault. Visitors can still see the construction techniques of that period in the stone structure today.
The remains are accessible via marked trails within the Parco Naturale Regionale Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca nature reserve. You should wear sturdy shoes for the walk through the landscape and allow time to explore the surroundings.
The tower sits about 600 meters (1,969 feet) from the sea yet could maintain direct sight lines to two neighboring towers. This visual connection between watchtowers allowed guards to relay alarm signals quickly across the coastal network.
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