Torre Bruciata (Teramo)
Torre Bruciata is a Roman bastion built using the opus quadratum technique and it's dated II century b.C. It's located in Teramo in the centred Piazza Sant'Anna adjacent to the ancient cathedral of Santa Maria Aprutiensis (today known as Sant'Anna de'Pompetti's church).
| Torre Bruciata | |
|---|---|
 View of Torre Bruciata | |
| General information | |
| Type | Bastion |
| Location | Teramo, Italy |
| Coordinates | 42°39′31.58″N 13°42′20.06″E |
| Construction started | II century b.C. |
| Completed | XIII century a.D. |
| Height | 10 metres |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 8,53m x 7,80m |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Opus quadratum |
History and description
The building is developed upon a squared base and it's around 10 metres high, its walls being 1,30m thick and large 8m. This massive tower was built using big squared marble blocks. It was named Bruciata (burnt) due to the southern wall of the bastion showing evidences of the destructive fire that spread in Teramo in 1156 by Roberto II di Bassavilla's hand, the Lord of Loretello, who rebelled against the Palermitan King Guglielmo I towards whom the city wanted to stay in his favor. Concerning its purpose, some believe it could have been the bell tower of the nearby Santa Maria Aprutiensis' cathedral, others simply believe it was a high defensive bastion located by the stone city walls at north-west of the city before Christ's birth. The historian architect of Abruzzo Ignazio Gavini believes it could have accomplished both functions instead.
Bibliography
- Sgattoni, Gianmmario (1971). "La torre bruciata fra storia e leggenda". Notiziario economico della Camera di Commercio Industria e Agricoltura. No. 9. Teramo: tip. Ceti.