Torre di Mezzo, Coastal defense tower in Punta Secca, Italy
Torre di Mezzo is a square tower standing on a coastal promontory between two other fortifications along the Mediterranean shore. The structure was built from stone and positioned to command views across the water.
The tower was constructed between 1600 and 1601 on orders from the Kingdom of Sicily and the nobility. Its first cannon arrived in 1602 from a nearby settlement, enabling it to defend the coast.
The tower was part of a defense network designed to protect the coast from attacks. Today visitors can observe how this structure was integrated into the landscape and served the communities nearby.
The tower can be reached via Via Pietro V Celestri and was partially restored in the 1990s. The ruins remain relatively accessible, though the coastal area can be quite windy.
A bronze bell system on the tower's terrace served as an early alert mechanism to warn settlements of approaching vessels. This communication method was important because messengers needed time to relay warnings across the region.
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