Sollima Tower in Locadi – Pagliara

Sollima Tower it is found at locadi, a very small one fraction of Pagliarain province of Messina. It's about a tower of sighting medieval which has been preserved in a fairly good state and which characterizes the landscape of what is considered the smallest fraction of Italy. Furthermore, a visit to the tower can be the right excuse to discover other points of interest in and around Pagliara. Here, then, are some useful indications that can be used to better organize your visit.

History of the Sollima Tower

The tourist signs found next to the Sollima Tower indicate that it is one Saracen tower but this probably does not mean that it is a structure built by the Arabs but rather one lookout post to avoid the approach of Saracen ships. Very little is known about Torre Sollima, given that there are no documents that affirm its construction with certainty. Some historical reconstructions, however, date its creation around the fifteenth or sixteenth century and probably the Sollima tower was part of the defensive system for the defense and monitoring of the Pagliara torrent which was one of the main access points for Arab raids. As proof of this, there is a mountain on the southern bank of the river, called Castelluzzo lace, which evokes the presence of a second watchtower of the same network.

The architecture of the Locadi Tower in Pagliara

From an architectural point of view, unfortunately Torre Sollima has not been perfectly preserved because for too many years it was left to itself and to neglect, as well as being damaged by the earthquake of 1908.

The structure is located in the center of the hamlet of Locadi and has a square plan, built so that the watchtower is oriented in a north-east / south-west direction, precisely to check for the presence of strangers along the course of the stream. Currently the opening of the bastion is located on the south-east side but it should not be misleading because it is a real gash made in more recent years. The real and original entrance is located in the north-east wall and is easily recognizable because at its top there is a monolithic architrave engraved with an inverted A. Inside there is a trace of the housing of the stairs which were made of wood and which were destroyed: it is not clear whether they were intended to connect the entrance with the terrace located on the first floor or with an internal interlude. What remains of the roof suggests that it was a cross vault supported by four pillars.

What you can do around the Torre Sollima

Those who go to Locadi to admire the Torre Sollima will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to discover other interesting corners of this locality. For example there is the Mother Church of San Giovanni which is from the XNUMXth century and is made in Romanesque style. The votive icons that can be admired in various points of the town are also very interesting, such as the one at the entrance to the town which depicts the Madonna del Tindari or the one in Piazza S. Giovanni which instead contains an image of the Madonna del Carmelo. In nearby Pagliara, on the other hand, it is certainly worth a visit San Sebastian church but also some works of civil architecture such as Calabro palace e Loteta palace, two nineteenth-century buildings that were the residences of the local nobles.

How is it possible to get to Locadi di Pagliara

To reach Locadi and admire the Torre Sollima it is advisable to use theauto. From Messina the road to follow is first the A18 and then the E45, the same route that those arriving from Catania must take. From Palermo and Trapani, on the other hand, you must first take the A20 and then the E90 while those coming from Syracuse must choose the E45. Who prefers the train, however, will have to refer to the stations of Furci, Roccalumera Mandanici and Santa Teresa di Riva, which are the closest ones, given that neither Locadi nor Pagliara have their own. From these stations it is then possible to continue to the destination with i bus made available by the public company AST.