Torre di Cerrano

The Torre di Cerrano is a well-preserved 16th-century coastal watchtower about 2 km south of Pineto, now serving as the headquarters and symbol of the Area Marina Protetta Torre del Cerrano — one of the few marine protected areas on the Adriatic. The tower was built on the orders of Charles V to monitor for Ottoman raids, and it stands on a low promontory with the pine forest behind and the sea directly in front.

The marine reserve protects a stretch of Adriatic coastline and seabed significant for its Posidonia seagrass meadows, which provide habitat for fish and invertebrates. The water around the tower is clear by Adriatic standards, and snorkelling in the protected zone is particularly good. The tower itself houses a marine biology laboratory and hosts seasonal exhibitions about the protected area and its wildlife.

things to do sight
A story
The tower was built in the 16th century on the orders of Charles V to watch for Ottoman raids along the Adriatic coast. The threat was real: Turkish corsairs operating from North African bases raided coastal towns regularly throughout the 1500s, and watchtowers like this one were part of a defensive network stretching the length of the Italian coast.

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