Walls, towers and gates Country of Palermo

The Tower of Cape Rama had a defensive and sighting function of the Saracen ships. It is the oldest tower of the 11 that were part of the defensive wall. It did not resist the bombings of war, and therefore it was destroyed, today we can only see the remains of it.

The megalithic walls are the old fortifications, dating from the 5th century BC. These are large overlapping blocks, more than three meters high. The structures were restored during the 1980s, and today despite their age, they are in a good state of preservation.

The Torre Alba also known as Torre di Cala Rossa is a defensive structure with a truncated conic base and dates back to 1589. Over the years the tower passed into the hands of several owners, until 2000, when after some restorations it became the property of the Prince of Carini.

The Tower of Santa Maria is located in the Municipality of Ustica. The building was created for defence reasons and was used to report dangers. In 1972, the Archaeological Museum and the Municipal Art Gallery were set up inside the tower. Currently, restoration work is underway on the first floor.

The Toledo Tower was built in 1405 by Martino the Younger. The building has a circular structure and was used to spot pirates. Work on the restoration of the tower began in 2007 and ended in 2008.

Torre Muzza was built during the course around the 16th and 17th centuries and was also called Torrazza. Its function was purely defensive of the Sicilian coast and was in visual connection with the Tower of Isola delle Femmine and with two other towers in the area. It is currently in a state of disrepair and only the base remains of the original structure.

Torre Ciachea or Ciachia is located in the locality of Carini. This type of construction was built because the area was very swampy and swampy and therefore there was a need to have buildings that were raised and allow the cultivation of the products of the area. Today it is privately owned and is used for events, such as ceremonies or weddings.

The origin of the tower dates back to the 16th century, commissioned by Marco Antonio Colonna as part of the defensive system of the coast. It is a typical sighting structure of a square plan, which at the time used to control almost the entire adjacent area. Today, the building is privately owned, but does not show up in a good state of preservation.

The Mulinazzo Tower was built in 1552 by Viceroy Juan de Vega. In 1584 the tower was completed, and today it is presented on a pyramidal trunk structure.

The Tonnara dell'Ursa tower is a coastal defense tower, located in the Municipality of Cinisi, in Palermo. In 1401 the building was owned by the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale. Currently, the whole complex, including the tower, are owned by the Municipality of Cinisi.

The Tower of the Soprano Castle is the only part still clearly visible structurally that has arrived until today. This construction dates back to the second half of the 13th century and was erected on a cliff, to defend and control the various settlements in the area. But in general, there are only ruins of the structure.

The Saracen Tower was built in the Middle Ages with the function of defense and control of the surrounding territory. It owes its name to the cylindrical shape it holds. The Tower was accessed through a ladder of pegs that led to the opening from the ogival arch located in the north. Currently the property is located in the area of relevance of the Capuchin Monastery of Gangi.

The Ventimiglia Tower was built in 1337 by Francis I and is characterized by a Gothic-Norman structure. In 1560 it was attached to the Mother Church of which it constitutes the bell tower. The tower has a square structure divided into three levels and shows on the upper floors a clock placed in 1758.

The Saracen towers are fortifications that date back to Roman times, with greater expansion in the Kingdom of Naples. We can distinguish these buildings in defense and sighting towers. Over the centuries the towers have often changed shape, moving from a circular shape to a square, this for strategic reasons, in fact needed them to defend against the attacks of cannon blows.

The Finale Tower was built in 1597 as a Spanish sighting facility. During the nineteenth century the Tower was placed under the superintendence of Baron Michele Collotti of Castelbuono. Later, over the years, the building was enriched with a terrace able to offer tourists a suggestive panorama of the coast.

The Tower was part of the castle built in 745 during the period when Sicily was under Byzantine rule. The building was built for reasons of defence against the attacks of the Turks. The castle was composed of three towers of which only one remained. The three-meter-high tower was restored by Matteo Bonello.

The Battilamano Tower consists of a room on the ground floor and two rooms on the first floor. Currently, the Tower has become a high quality restaurant that hosts many important events.