Torre di Calafuria

Torre di Calafuria is a sixteenth-century Medici coastal watchtower on the cliffs south of Livorno. Its square plan, broad scarped base and projecting walkway reflect its role in the coastal defenses against Barbary raids.

Why it matters

The tower stands within the protected Calafuria coastal landscape, between Antignano and Quercianella. It formed part of a chain of watchtowers used to monitor the Tuscan coast and relay warnings.

What to notice

The roughly twenty-metre tower has a square plan, a sloping base and a projecting walkway beneath its roofline. Its position on the rocky coast helps explain the relationship between Livorno’s defenses and the sea.

Context and history

Built under the Medici in the sixteenth century, Torre di Calafuria guarded the approaches to Livorno as part of a wider coastal watch system. The former watchtower is now state-owned and recognized for its historic and artistic interest.