Photo: Jeanne boleyn, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
- Type
- Fortress / Tower
- Period
- Renaissance, 1544
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 37°49′17″ N, 15°16′06″ E
- Address
- Viale Stracina, 2
History and description
Vignazza Tower (Italian: Torre Vignazza) is a 16th-century coastal watchtower in Giardini Naxos, Sicily, southern Italy. Today, the tower is in good condition.
History
Vignazza Tower is a quadrangular structure, three stories high. It was constructed in 1544 to patrol Cape Schisò and the coast south of Port Schisò against the raids of the Barbary corsairs who were led by the Turkish corsair Barbarossa Kheir-ed-Din to attack and plunder the small fishing villages on the coast. When an enemy ship was sighted, the guardian of the watchtower sent out smoke signals to alert the villagers and other watchtowers of the imminent threat. There were many watchtowers such as Vignazza constructed along the Sicilian coast.
Vignazza Tower is located in the Recanati area of Giardini Naxos and is annexed to the archeological park. Its interior is occasionally used for exhibitions and various performances.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Vignazza Tower».
Timeline
- 1544Built
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
AlcantaraTrain, nearest
1.5 km as the crow flies
Vignazza TowerViale Stracina, 2
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapMore fortresses and towers in Sicily
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Vignazza Tower?
Vignazza Tower is in Giardini Naxos, in the province of Messina (Sicily), Italy. Address: Viale Stracina, 2. GPS coordinates: 37.82127, 15.26845.
How old is Vignazza Tower?
Wikidata dates it to 1544.
What else is there to see near Vignazza Tower?
Nearby you’ll find: Schisò Castle (400 m away), Naxos (600 m away), Palazzo Duchi di Santo Stefano (3.5 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 5 photos
- Vignazzi Tower — Jeanne boleyn, Public domain
- Torre Vignazza 5-2-23 — Jeanne Griffin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vignazza Tower front view 10-2-2021 — Jeanne Griffin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vignazza Tower Giardini Naxos 10-2-2021 — Jeanne Griffin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vignazza Tower2 — No machine-readable author provided. Jeanne boleyn~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences