Bell Tower

The Bell Tower, one of the symbols of the village, stands on the ridge, almost in the centre of the town. It rises 26 metres into the sky to overlook the entire village, so that the sound of the bells, which are driven by a large clock, can be heard even on the coast. It was indeed called the “Torre delle ore”. Built in 1539 – a date that can still be read on a tuff stone at the top – it was closely linked to the watchtowers and lookout towers that dotted the northern and southern coasts of Calabria. Their purpose was to warn the population of the imminent arrival of the Turks and of the various predators that had come from the sea for centuries.

The lighthouse was demolished in 1934 because it was considered a danger to a nearby hut, and a palace was immediately built in its place. It was lowered again after the flood of October 1951, which affected its stability.

Those who made it to the top to read the date would turn their eyes to the east and enjoy a breathtaking panorama that stretched from Isola Capo Rizzuto across the Ionian Sea to Monte Barca. They wished that up there, at the top of the old tower, a belvedere would be built so that everyone could admire such beauty.