Watchtowers

Watchtowers

The areas of Castellammare and Scopello are surrounded by watchtowers, generally called “Saracen towers” because they defended against raids and attacks by pirates. Built in the 16th century using blocks of limestone, these towers still dominate the Gulf today, creating a unique panorama. Torre Bennistra can be reached from Baglio di Scopello, where you continue along an uphill path for about six hundred meters until you reach the top of the cliff where the tower is located. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama, and on clearer days, you can see the island of Ustica in the distance. Dominating Guidaloca Beach in the Ciavoli district is Torre Guidaloca, which overlooks the eastern part of the Gulf of Castellammare and was used until the Second World War. Finally, Torre Doria, along with the coastal Casamatta, is now open to visitors—an additional military outpost built during the Second World War—immersed in a historical-naturalistic path overlooking the ancient Tonnara and the Sea Stacks.