Sicily’s Watchtowers

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Keep a lookout for these watchtowers that exist all along Sicily’s coastline. From at least the early 14th century through World War II, these watchtowers of all shapes and sizes (and now, conditions) earned their keep. The system was designed so that from one to the next the keepers could communicate with their compatriots what they observed on the sea or otherwise using light, smoke, and reflective surfaces, informing of danger or other happenings. Anecdotally, at the height of their usage, it was possible to send a message around the circumference of the island in one day, using such signals.

Use the search field in the footer of ExperienceSicily.com, searching for “Tower,” and you’ll see other posts about these towers around the island.

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About the author

Allison Scola is founder, owner, and curator of Experience Sicily and the Cannoli Crawl. Named one of the experts for the 2019 New York Times Travel Show, Scola writes and lectures on Sicily and leads immersive tours and designs custom itineraries that delight discerning travelers. She has been featured on Rudy Maxa’s World with the Carey’s, America’s #1 Travel Radio Show and as the cannoli expert in the documentary Cannoli, Traditions Around the Table. Scola has lectured about Sicily at University of Pennsylvania, The New School, LIU Post University, Queens College, Westchester Italian Cultural Center, at high schools in the New York City metropolitan area, and at events in New York City.

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