Coastal towers
In this section of our site, we offer you an overview of the most beautiful coastal towers that you can visit during your holiday in Puglia. The coastal towers of Salento are true sentinels that, over the centuries, have protected this splendid region, today a popular tourist destination thanks to its uncontaminated nature and rich history. These towers, mostly built between the 15th and 16th centuries, are distributed along the Ionian and Adriatic coasts of Puglia and their main function was to defend the mainland from pirate raids and invaders from the sea, such as the feared Saracens and Turks, who often plundered coastal villages.
The strategic position of the towers allows us to imagine how these structures were once fundamental to the sighting system; in fact, they were connected to each other by light signals: a system of fires, which were lit at sunset or in case of danger, allowed the local populations to be warned of the presence of enemies. These towers, however, were not only defensive fortifications but also a symbol of power and resistance against external threats.
The towers, some of which are still perfectly visible and recognizable today, are made of local stone and come in different shapes and sizes. Some towers, such as the famous Torre dell’Orso, have a square plan, while others, such as the Torre di San Giovanni, are characterized by a circular structure. In any case, these buildings were designed to withstand attacks, and many of them were built to integrate harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.
Visiting the coastal towers of Salento means immersing yourself in a unique historical and landscape dimension, where the past and present intertwine perfectly, offering food for thought on the resilience and beauty of this land.
Coastal towers in Salento
The coastal towers scattered throughout Salento are some of the most important historical testimonies of the period in which the region represented the frontier of Europe, the bridge from the Western world to the East.
Torre dell’Orso
Torre dell'Orso is a seaside resort in the Melendugno marina, characterized by sandy beaches and crystal clear sea that will please all swimmers.
Torre Pali
Torre Pali, a fraction of Salve, is a seaside resort in the province of Lecce not far from Gallipoli.
Torre Vado: crystal clear waters and shallow waters
A few minutes from Santa Maria di Leuca, on the Ionian coast of Salento, Torre Vado takes its name from the watchtower of the same name.
Tower of Porto Cesareo
The Porto Cesareo Tower is one of the most iconic monuments of Salento, located in the municipality of Porto Cesareo, in the province of Lecce. This coastal tower, which rises majestically over the crystalline sea, tells centuries of history and today represents one of the main tourist attractions of the area. But let’s discover together […]
Torre San Giovanni
Among the most popular in the summer months, it owes its name to the tower built in the 16th century by Charles V to monitor the coast. Its appearance today is very particular, as it is covered with black and white checkered tiling, therefore easy to remember for tourists and to identify for sailors.