A city built by the sea could not avoid having a tower used for defense purposes.
This is why the Fortress of Saint Anthony the Abbot was built over an older lookout. Nonetheless, the need for safety didn’t stop the people of Bari from destroying it, simply finding it ugly.
It was re-built by the Duchess Isabella of Aragon, who also improved the efficiency of the Fortress by adding an internal stairway system and secret emergency escape tunnels. The watchtower again risked disappearing with time becoming torn down, but once again it has recently been restructured to host cultural events. The people of Bari will have to return upon their steps, because the view from the highest building in Bari is too unique to erase.
Read more
