The little-known warning function of the bell tower of the Mother Church of Acireale in the 16th-17th century

The indented Sicilian coastline on the Ionian Sea from Catania to Taormina, with its high cliffs, caves, beaches and harbours, offered several landings both for trading and piracy activity, allowing to hide groups of a few small ships. Due to its particular geographical characteristics, this coastal area was plenty of settlements with their flourishing economic activities, and during the 16th and the 17th century it needed to be protected against the attacks of brigands from the countryside or pirates from the sea. Therefore, a watch, warning and defence system was designed, implemented and improved over two centuries of continuous looting raids. Among these coastal settlements, in the 16th century the town of Acireale rapidly gained political importance, coming to rival the main city of Catania. Interesting information about the coastal sentry service and the location of the guard posts along the coastline during the 16th and 17th century can be found by reading the books of records in the Historical Archive of the Municipality of Acireale. In the layout of the coastal watch and warning service, the contribution of the ancient bell tower of the Cathedral of Acireale is a less known aspect of its history. A perfect example of the contribution given by the tower to the security of the city is given by its bells, tolled as warning bells to sound the alarm and rally the troops of the town militia. The main bell of the tower was broken several times and cast again for this reason, and the opportunity of the coming of the foundrymen was often caught to cast also artillery pieces for the defence of the town. In this work, direct observation of the coastline and its background has been integrated into archive and literary research and analysis of historic illustrations, in an attempt to trace the history of the bell tower in its role as a watchtower.