Torre Santa Maria dell'Alto

Torre Santa Maria dell'Alto stands on a rocky cliff, rising 51 meters above the Ionian Sea with a truncated pyramid base and square plan.

The tower was constructed between 1569 and 1598 under Spanish viceroy Don Pedro de Toledo's initiative to protect the Salento peninsula from maritime threats.

The structure features military architecture with ten arrow slits distributed across all sides and stone staircases leading to separate rooms for guards and storage.

The tower forms part of Porto Selvaggio Natural Park, allowing visitors to access the upper floor for views toward Gallipoli and the surrounding coastline.

During the 18th century, the defensive tower transformed into a hospital for individuals with cholera and plague arriving from Turkish and Barbary ships.

Location: Nardò

Architectural style: Renaissance

Part of: Coastal towers in Salento

Address: Via Francesco Cilea, 85 - 73048 - Nardò (LE)

GPS coordinates: 40.14278,17.97667

Latest update: March 2, 2025 20:04