Towers and Fortresses
Map
As far as military architecture is concerned, many are the historical events regarding this southern Tuscan promontory .In 805 it was mentioned as a possession belonging to the Roman Tre Fontane Abbey; later on, Argentario came to be within the patrimonies of an ancient Sienese family, the Aldobrandeschi counts. As a matter of fact, our promontory was ruled by the Sienese Republic and afterwards by the Spanish, when Philip II jointed it to the Stato dei Presidi. Between 15th and 17th century, period of Sienese and Spanish governorship, Argentario was endowed with defensive fortification, be it towers, fortresses or outposts in many 500 treatises, Argentario is often mentioned for its strategic location and regarded as the most qualified place in all Italy where to build a fortified town.
Spanish Fortress in Porto S. Stefano
during the second half of 16th century and had the function of military defensive fortress, apt to sightings and garrisons’ lodgings. Top
Lividonia Tower
This Spanish tower, dated between the end of 16th and the beginning of 17th century, commands a superb view of .the NW coast of Argentario. This stately building has the shape of a high parallelepipedal square and it is still in a very good repair. Top
Cala Moresca tower
Dating 16th century, this square Spanish tower is built at the centre of Cala Moresca. As it leans openly to the near Cala del Gesso, it surely had the function of sighting. Its upper level is partly destroyed. Top
Cala Piatti tower
Another sighting tower built in 16th century., which has a round shape and hides perfectly itself among the rocks and the slopes of the homonymous cove. This building is divided into two circular parts; the ground level was bound to be a water deposit while the upper open-air section was used as watchmen’s lodgings. It is still in a very good repair. Top
Capo d'Uomo tower
Partly destroyed, it is a square building dating back to the end of 16th century, located on the top of Punta di Capo D’Omo. Thanks to its position, 385 m. height above sea level, this tower offers a wide view of the coast. Top
Maddalena tower
Beautiful tower with a square shape, built by the Sienese Government (XV° sec.) and modified by the Spanish it is in a very good repair. This building is divided into two parts; the ground level was bound to be a water deposit while the upper open-air section was used as watchmen’s lodgings Top
Cannelle tower
Built between 16th and 18th century, this polygonal tower is built on Cannelle Beach and is surrounded by a low defensive wall. It is still in a very good repair.
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Ciana tower
This is an ancient tower, at first built by the Sienese Government, and later on modified by the Spanish in order to facilitate signalling between the numerous outposts, even to Porto Ercole. It has a round shape with a single non-inhabitable room and is clung to the rocks at the centre of Poggio di Bocca D’Inferno, between Cala Piazzoni and Cala del Purgatorio. Its conditions are not very good.
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Avvoltore tower
This building, dated 16th century, has a square shape and is surrounded by a fencing-wall. It consists in two rooms at the ground level and one at the upper level.Top
Stella Fortress
The construction of this fortress dates back to 26th century. It is located at the bottom of Monte Telegrafo in a special position dominating the whole Cala dei Santi. It has a remarkable architectural structure with an exemplary draw-bridge, though its main purpose was just sighting and not defensive. Together with Filippo Fortress , it was one of the most important strongholds of military organization in Porto Ercole.
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Rocca Fortress in Porto Ercole
The “Rocca”, or Santa Barbara Fortress, is the largest military construction of Argentario. It has an irregular shape to fit perfectly the hill of which it was founded. Its total area reaches 26,000 square metres, of which about 14,500 are part of the stately fencing-walls. The internal buildings cover an area of 1,720 square metres and the open-air surface reaches about 9800 square metres. The Rocca was built during different periods and centuries, following the population and military events of Porto Ercole. This fortress has a unique wall shape leaning to the sea, and a remarkable draw-bridge, only way to get in the inside, that leads directly to the internal lodgings.
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Santa Caterina fortress
Santa Caterina Fortress was built in a special position, at the bottom of the hill of Monte Filippo, at the very jut leaning to the sea, for an important purpose: it allowed the one-level barrage fire, impossible from all the other fortresses and outposts. However, its main function was not the defensive one but it was used as a battery; it has moreover been used also as a hospital and here a famous Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi, aka Caravaggio, was taken when he was found dying on Cala Galera Beach. Like other fortresses, also Santa Caterina is empowered by a fencing-wall of notable thickness and by a draw-bridge. It is in a very good repair.
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Filippo fortress
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Argentiera tower
Argentiera tower is one of the oldest buildings, as it was built by the Sienese in 15th century. This is a really particular tower: though belonging to the range of sighting towers, it is not built on the coast like the others but in the inland, precisely at the top of Argentiera Hill, and from such a position it dominates four valleys, Pozzarello, Forconata, Castagno and Campone, all belonging to Porto S. Stefano’s territory. This tower has a square shape and is composed by two rooms: one is supposed to have benne a water deposit, while the other was probably made for lodging its watchmen. Its one peculiarity is the lack of real entrance doors or external stairways, in fact it only presents a small opening on the Nortnern side. Unfortunately its preservation is not in good conditions but it is being repaired nowadays.
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Do not forget: Cala Grande Tower - Pertuso Tower. Top
