Photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo uploaded and derivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Period
- Early modern period, 1670
- Commissioned by
- Kingdom of Sicily
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 38°01′11″ N, 12°29′49″ E
- Address
- Via Torre di Ligny
History and description
Ligny Tower (Italian: Torre di Ligny, Sicilian: Turrignì) is a coastal watchtower in Trapani, Sicily. It was built between 1671 and 1672 at a strategic position on the city's western coast. Today, the tower is in good condition, and it is open to the public as an archaeological museum.
History
Ligny Tower was built on a narrow strip of land on Trapani's western coast, to defend the city from attacks by the Barbary corsairs. It was named after the Viceroy of Sicily, Claude Lamoral, 3rd Prince of Ligne, who had ordered its construction. The tower was designed by the Flemish architect Carlos de Grunenbergh. It has a square base with scarped walls, with four corner turrets which originally contained lanterns.
The tower was proposed in a meeting held at Palermo on 11 January 1670. Construction began in 1671, and it was inaugurated in October 1672.
A passage connecting the tower with the mainland was built in 1806, and guns were installed on the tower's roof until 1862. It was subsequently used as a semaphore station, but it was eventually abandoned.
In World War II, the tower was used by the Regia Marina and was armed with anti-aircraft guns.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Ligny Tower».
Timeline
- 1670Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
TrapaniTrain, nearest
2.0 km as the crow flies
Ligny TowerVia Torre di Ligny
Port1.4 km
Aeroporto di Trapani-Birgi11.9 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore fortresses and towers in Sicily
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ligny Tower?
Ligny Tower is in Trapani, in the province of Trapani (Sicily), Italy. Address: Via Torre di Ligny. GPS coordinates: 38.01960, 12.49697.
How much does it cost to visit Ligny Tower?
There is an admission charge. We don’t have ticket prices: please check with the site before you go.
How old is Ligny Tower?
Wikidata dates it to 1670.
What else is there to see near Ligny Tower?
Nearby you’ll find: Museum of Prehistory and The Sea - Tower of Ligny (0 m away), Casina Nasi (500 m away), La Salerniana, museum of contemporary art (1 km away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 7 photos
- Ligny Tower - Trapani — Leandro Neumann Ciuffo uploaded and derivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY 2.0
- Torre di Ligny by night — User:Xooxlysenko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Trapani - Torre di Ligny - 2025-09-23 21-50-29 001 — TeKappa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trapani - Torre di Ligny - 2025-09-23 22-40-16 001 — TeKappa, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Trapani - Torre di Ligny — Michiel1972, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vista del centro di Trapani e del golfo nord da Torre Ligny — EdoBoo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ligny (Trapani) — Civa61, CC BY-SA 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences