Torre di Scopello:
historical bulwark

Torre di Scopello, also known as “Torre Doria”, is an essential part of the entire defensive system that, starting from the 16th century, characterized the entire Kingdom of Sicily, in response to the threats posed by Turkish and corsair raids.

Built as a Deputation Tower in a highly strategic position, its purpose was defense, observation, and communication with other towers through smoke signals: the warning message completed the tour of the island within a day.

It was the Deputation that entrusted the coastal defense project to the Architect Tiburzio Spannocchi in 1578, who studied the geographical conformation of the coasts, while the Architect and Military Engineer Camillo Camilliani, between 1583-84, identified the strategic coastal points and designed the various towers.

In particular, Torre Doria was completed in 1602, following various disputes, technical considerations, and practical studies of the territory, and was positioned at a decisive point, above the Tonnara and about 1 km from the current Zingaro Nature Reserve, becoming one of the most efficient towers in the entire defense system.

The tower was garrisoned by three gunners and equipped with an iron cannon on a wheeled carriage and a hoist for signaling, until the threat of raids subsided, and the towers were gradually abandoned.

However, Torre Doria, still in an optimal state of preservation, resumed its military activity during the Second World War as a military garrison, serving as an anti-aircraft base, while the 'casemate,' positioned under the Tower and camouflaged among the rocks, is emblematic of the state of the art that military engineering reached at the outbreak of the war.

In light of historical-archaeological evidence, it seems that this portion of the coast was once occupied by the ancient Cetaria, probably a trading emporium of Greek origin, whose exact location remains unclear. It is certain, on the other hand, that the territory of Torre Doria was part of this ancient emporium, thus constituting the historical center of Scopello, at the confluence of lively commercial and cultural exchanges.

In any case, over time, and especially at the end of the Second World War, the Tower was briefly occupied by the Americans who landed on the island in July 1943, and later abandoned and returned to its owners.

From that moment onwards, the owners themselves were responsible for writing a new chapter in its history. Even before the establishment of the Zingaro Nature Reserve in 1981, they were eager to dedicate the same commitment to landscape conservation, following a business philosophy aimed at preserving the artistic and architectural heritage. They pursued a strictly conservative restoration to restore the original historical value of the Tower and undertook efforts to promote the history of the monument.