Torre di Ligny
The Ligny Tower ( Italian: Torre di Ligny ) is part of the medieval fortifications of the city of Trapani in Sicily , which also represents the western tip of the city. These defensive structures included other towers, such as the two south-facing Torre Colombaia and Torre Nubia .
It was built in 1671 on the orders of the Belgian and Viceroy of Sicily Lamoral Claude of the Kingdom of Sicily during the Spanish rule of Sicily and inaugurated on the first Sunday in October of the same year. The tower stands on a rock that is the continuation of the narrow strip of land of the ancient city and is now firmly connected to it. It was built to defend the city from the invasions of the Turks, which seemed necessary since the conquest of Crete : In 1669 the more than 450-year Venetian rule ended there .
The master builder was Carlos de Grunembergh , who was initially active in this function with his brother Ferdinand in Spain in the middle of the eighteenth century. In the last decades of the century was in the service of the Viceroy of Sicily and made impressive defenses all over the island. He created modern fortress techniques, especially in Messina , Augusta , Malta and Catania .
The square, slightly tapered building with raised walls makes a defensive impression. In the central axis, there are wall openings on all four sides on both floors, which are designed as windows on the upper floor. The structure is crowned by a simple, waist-high balustrade without battlements, loopholes or the like. The guns were placed on the roof until 1861. During the Second World War the tower was used by the Navy as an anti-aircraft position.
The property is owned by the city of Trapani. The building, which was last restored in 1979, is illuminated at night. Since 1983 a small museum for prehistory and early history has been housed on the ground floor and on marine archeology on the first floor. The more than 100 objects on display, which were lifted from the seabed of the Mediterranean, are amphorae, anchors and furniture from Punic, Greek and Roman ships.
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Coordinates: 38 ° 1 ′ 10 ″ N , 12 ° 29 ′ 49 ″ E