Torre dell'Alto
Facts and practical information
Torre Santa Maria dell'Alto, or simply Torre dell'Alto, is a coastal tower in Salento located in the municipality of Nardò and falling within the Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano Park. Situated 51 m above sea level on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea, it was erected in the second half of the 16th century with defensive functions designed by Spanish viceroy Don Pietro da Toledo, who drew up a system for controlling the coasts of the Salento peninsula.
Finished as early as 1569 by Neretan master Angelo Spalletta, the building has a truncated pyramidal base with a square plan, slightly scarped, separated from the upper body by a string-course cornice. The upper floor, equipped with an entrance door, ends with a corbelled cornice and is provided with battlements and ten machicolations distributed on all four sides. A large tuff staircase with three arches provides access. The interior, consisting of two overlapping rooms, is provided with a cistern for water supply; the ground floor was used for storing supplies, the second floor, divided into four rooms, was used as the dwelling of the cavallari.
It communicated to the north with Torre Uluzzo and to the south with Torre Santa Caterina.
Apulia
Apulia