Torre dell'Alto overlooks the Regional Natural Park of Porto Selvaggio, just 50 metres far from the sea and at an altitude of about 50 metres.
This tower is one of the most scenic and picturesque river towers along the Ionian coast. It communicates with Uluzzo Tower to the north and Santa Caterina Tower to the south. It is located on the “Damned cliff” (there are several versions of the legend that gave the cliff this name) from which, according to popular tradition, condemned prisoners were thrown into the sea. In the same area there is a farm called Masseria dell’alto.
History
The first official mention of this river tower, also known as the tower 'of the goat's leap', is preserved in an official deed of 1575, relating to a payment by the Universitas of Nardò to the master builder Angelo Spalletta from Nardò and the foreman Lupo Antonio Mergola. Works continued until 1598 and then some renovation works was done, due to exposure to the erosive action of atmospheric agents. At the beginning of the 18th century, the tower lost its function as a defensive structure and became a hospital.
Cases of cholera, plague or other dangerous diseases could often occur on Turkish or Barbary ships full of pirates and enslaved Christians. In such cases, there were two options: either the entire crew surrendered or those who were infected or believed to be infected were disembarked. In order to protect the local population, the military and health authorities moved the infected people into some river tower.
Around the early 1700s, dell'Alto Tower became a hospital, as the notary Bonvino from Nardò informs us: "Turks and Slaves held in quarantine in the towers of Nardò". On September 10, 1569 Don Parafan, Duke of Alcalà, Viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples, gave instructions to the Royal House that the towers completed in the summer of that year in Terra d'Otranto, including that of S. Maria dell'Alto near Nardò, should also be equipped with ‘some metal artillery pieces’. The town of Nardò took care of the proper operation of the tower. In 1820 it was in poor condition and abandoned by the Customs Guard.
Other important medieval and post-medieval remains are also located near the tower. One example is the abbey complex of Santa Maria dell'Alto, built in the 12th century and renovated several times.
Today the tower is in a good state of preservation and from the upper floor, accessed by an external staircase, you can look southwards to admire the fascinating cove as far as Gallipoli, and northwards to enjoy the extraordinary natural landscape of Porto Selvaggio.
The tower was purchased by Apulia Region and is part of the Porto Selvaggio Park, one of the most important green areas in Salento (with a 300-hectare pinewood).
