The Towers of the Tyrrhenian coast (ex Papal State) between history and new realities

The essay draws from a research, by Sapienza University of Rome, on the ‘diverse’ landscapes of the Latium coast. The study aimed to investigate the processes of human settlement in the area and to identify its values and differences. The research analyses the fortified system between Civitavecchia and Gaeta, considering that the Latium territory is a particularly rich area with archaeological, architectural, landscape and naturalistic characteristics. The study, after a brief excursus on the towers of the Papal State along the Tyrrhenian coast, into the phase following the unification of the Kingdom when, with the conquest of Rome through the Aurelian Walls, all the weakness of the ancient urban defense system was exposed, necessitating both an immediate review of the existing state and a ‘revision’ of the coastal defense structures which, entrusted to the new State, were taken over by the Royal Army (Historical Institute of Culture of the Corps of Engineers). Next, the period relating Second World War is investigated, on the basis of unpublished archival material, when the historic turreted heritage was adapted to the role of semaphore stations, lookout points, and maritime communication. These structures, often located in strategic positions, were tasked with monitoring naval traffic and reporting any suspicious activity. As evidenced by the brief historical overview illustrates, we are faced with a cultural heritage of great interest both for military and civil history, for the history of architecture, and for the close relationship these structures have with the surrounding landscape and nature. The Latium tower, in fact, represents the strength of a geographical area thanks to which it is possible to create a vast offer of cultural qualities, in which the towers represent poles of attraction and resource, elements sedimented over time, many to be re-studied, others still to be explored, to trigger actions aimed at architectural, landscape, and environmental preservation.