On a rocky bastion that precipitates right into the sea, Torre Truglia rises on the promontory of Sperlonga. It is a symbol of the Lazio town, and an evocative location offering a breathtaking view. Built in 1532 over a pre-existing, Roman-origin tower, Torre Truglia was part of the local defense system, which also included Torre del Nibbio (part of a baronial castle in the city center) and Torre di Capovento, which was used as the customs office at the time.
Torre Truglia had a troubled history. Destroyed by Frederick Barbarossa, it was rebuilt in 1611 and destroyed again in 1623. Its shape had a specific reason: the four inclined buttresses were meant to stop the enemy from using ladders, while their bases were strategically built lower than the building in order to stop the enemy from going around the tower to help any attacking soldiers.
