Torre Pelosa, 16th-century coastal watchtower in Torre a Mare district, Bari, Italy.

Torre Pelosa is a coastal watchtower in Bari, built around 1500 under Viceroy Pietro di Toledo as part of the city's sea defenses. It is a stone structure with thick walls rising through several levels, once used both to spot approaching ships and to resist attack.

The tower was built around 1500 under Viceroy Pietro di Toledo's orders in response to coastal raids and attacks from pirates and North African forces. It became part of a broader system designed to protect harbor cities like Bari from these recurring threats.

Torre Pelosa takes its name from the pelagic fish once caught in these waters, and the tower appears on the coastal defence maps drawn up under Viceroy Toledo. Today it stands as a landmark by Bari's harbour, a point of reference for fishermen and walkers along the shore rather than a venue for events.

The site is accessible to visitors and located near the harbor where you can see across the Adriatic Sea and surrounding areas. Daytime visits work best when natural light clearly shows the tower's details and water views.

This tower remains one of the best preserved examples among the few coastal towers still standing in the region, showing how the area defended itself. Its location right by the sea makes it easy to understand why such structures were so important for protecting the city.