Torre della Tagliata, Coastal defense tower in Ansedonia, Italy

Torre della Tagliata is a multi-level tower with a quadrangular plan resting on a cordoned stone scarp base. A stepped ramp leads to the first floor, where the entrance door is preceded by a bridge. The upper part has an additional structure on one side, and at the southwest corner stands a small circular guard post with a dome roof.

The tower was rebuilt in the 16th century as part of the coastal defense network of the State of Presidi. This reconstruction raised earlier medieval foundations to meet the military needs of that era.

Giacomo Puccini stayed at the tower several times between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, after it had been converted from guard duty into a dwelling. The composer drew inspiration there for several of his works, including Turandot.

The tower can be accessed through hiking trails that wind through the surrounding landscape and connect to climbing areas. The natural rock formations nearby offer climbing opportunities for visitors interested in that activity.

The tower takes its name from the nearby Tagliata, an Etruscan engineering work that managed water flow through advanced techniques. This ancient site reveals how sophisticated hydraulic systems were thousands of years ago.