Welcome to Torre Calderina. From here, you can observe the sea, the land, history, and the sky. For the latter, you'll need to climb to the top, where you'll find an astronomical observatory. For everything else, we have dedicated audio segments that we invite you to listen to in order to plan not only a visit to the tower but also to the surrounding area. Molfetta is a city steeped in history, with dense networks of commercial, human, and maritime relationships, thanks to its centuries-old ties with Venice, Alexandria in Egypt, Constantinople, Amalfi, Ragusa, and more.

But of course, the very existence of these walls is related to the conflictual relationship with the Ottoman power. Torre Calderina is part of a monitoring system developed after the Ottoman conquest of Otranto in 1480. If you happen to find a way to reach the coasts of Salènto, we will tell you the whole story. In any case, that event coincided with a period of decline for the Aragonese Kingdom of Naples, which ruled Pùglia at the time. A new phase began, and the new kingdom of Charles V—a completely different, modern, and centralized power—decided to build 122 observation towers along Puglia’s coasts. It was a long-term project designed to warn the inland cities of dangers. The system took at least a couple of centuries to become fully operational.

Today, 74 coastal defense outposts are visible, and more than half of them are still standing. In this audio narration, you will find six of them: this one, Torre Pietra in Margherita di Savoia, the San Cataldo Lighthouse in Bari, Torre San Giovanni in Ugènto, and the Pùnta Palascìa Lighthouse in Òtranto, and Torre San Felice in Vièste.

Thanks to the European project CoHeN Coastal Heritage Network, much has been done for the knowledge and repurposing of these structures. Visiting them means discovering the paths that connect them, which also relate to the other coast of the Adriatic Sea. By sea, by train, or on foot, the coastal tower journey is an extraordinary travel project.

Consider this: visiting a lighthouse or a coastal tower means preserving traditions and landscapes, discovering still relevant technological innovations, and listening to unexpected stories.