Bastiglia, Medieval watchtower near Arechi Castle in Salerno, Italy.
Bastiglia is a circular stone tower standing on a hill above Arechi Castle, with a single interior chamber positioned five meters above ground level. The structure commands views across the gulf and the surrounding coastal landscape.
Prince Gisulf II built the tower in 1075 as a defensive structure against the threatening siege by Robert Guiscard. It dates from the Lombard period and was part of the regional medieval fortification system.
The name Bastiglia came from a 19th-century misunderstanding that the tower once served as a prison. This misconception shaped how locals have referred to and thought about the structure for generations.
The tower was restored in 2001 and remains accessible to visitors who can examine it from both inside and outside. Being located at the top of the hill, it is best approached from the nearby Arechi Castle area.
The structure is part of an extensive network of medieval watchtowers along the Campanian coast. These towers were strategically placed to provide maximum surveillance of sea approaches and mountain passes.
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