Torre della Pelosa, Coastal watchtower in Stintino, Italy

Torre della Pelosa is a circular stone tower standing on a promontory between Isola Piana and Capo Falcone, positioned to monitor maritime traffic heading toward the Gulf of Asinara. The structure rises approximately 10 meters high with perimeter walls roughly 2.5 meters thick and contains three internal chambers connected by a narrow staircase.

The tower was built before 1578 as a defensive structure housing a garrison of five soldiers armed with cannons and rifles to protect the coast. Military operations at the site ended in 1846, marking the end of its strategic role in coastal defense.

The tower takes its name from the nearby beach Sa Palosa, which refers to the seagrass deposits that wash up along this coastal stretch. Visitors can still see how the landscape and the structure are linked through this local naming tradition.

The tower stands on a small islet off the beach of La Pelosa, in the municipality of Stintino, and is reached only by crossing the water, so a boat is needed. The structure is in poor condition and its doorway sits about 6 metres above the ground, so the interior is not normally entered. The surrounding rocks are uneven; wear sturdy footwear and watch the sea.

The tower's only entrance was a hatch about six metres above the ground, reached by rope or rung ladders that could be pulled up in case of danger. Inside, a mushroom-shaped vault rests on a central pillar, and a narrow, steep stair built into the wall leads up to the terrace, where a light semicircular shelter of tiles and reeds once stood over the parapet.