Torre Castiglione, Renaissance defensive tower near Porto Cesareo, Italy.

Torre Castiglione stands in ruins on an uninhabited stretch of the Salento coast between Torre Lapillo and Torre Colimena, in the municipality of Porto Cesareo. Only remnants of the 1568 watchtower remain, its collapse probably caused by ground subsidence linked to karst, the phenomenon affecting the whole of Puglia.

Torre Castiglione was built in 1568 as part of the coastal watchtower system commissioned by Charles V against Turkish pirate raids in the Salento. Work was first entrusted to Virgilio Pugliese and, after his death, continued under Leonardo Spalletta. In 1825 it was recorded in good condition; by 1842 it housed the Guardia Doganale. It later collapsed, probably because of ground subsidence caused by karst, and only ruins remain.

The tower served as a vital protection point for coastal communities threatened by pirate raids. This network of coastal structures shaped how local people lived and viewed their relationship with the sea.

The tower sits on elevated ground between Torre Lapillo and Torre Colimena, with marshy terrain surrounding the area. Wear sturdy shoes as the ground can be wet and uneven, especially during rainy seasons.

The tower collapsed at an unknown date, probably because the ground gave way through karst processes, a phenomenon affecting the whole of Puglia. Only ruins remain today, in a deserted stretch of coast between Torre Lapillo and Torre Colimena.