Torre del Passero Solitario

Medieval tower of the Augustinian convent, immortalised in another of Leopardi's poems

The Torre del Passero Solitario is the bell tower of the church and convent of Sant'Agostino, an octagonal medieval structure that rises high above the rooftops of the eastern part of the old town. The name — "Lonely Sparrow Tower" — comes not from any architectural feature but from Leopardi's poem of the same title, in which the bird sings alone from the top of this very tower while the village below celebrates a festival.

The tower is not normally open to climb, but the lane that runs past it — Via Calcagni — gives a good view, and the small square on its eastern side is a pleasant place to sit. The adjoining church of Sant'Agostino, with its Gothic portal, is worth a look if the door is open.

things to do sight
A story
Leopardi's poem *Il Passero Solitario* — "The Lonely Sparrow" — begins with a solitary bird singing from the top of this old convent tower while the rest of the village celebrates outside the walls. The poet uses the bird as an image of his own withdrawn life. Local people will tell you it is still common to hear a single bird singing from the tower in summer.