History

( Piazza Sulis) - Built during the first half of the 6th century, perhaps on the site of another 15th century tower also circular in design. It constituted one of the bastions of Alghero's fortified town wall. In fact it reaches a height off 30 metres from sea level of which 23 metres start from ground level. The external breadth also measures 23 metres. The helicoidally staircase which gives access to the upper chamber derives from the thickness of the walls, a full five and half metres. The ground floor hall is a beautiful example of Catalan-Aragonese architecture. The two superimposed chambers are covered by a single block of concrete, which moulded in strips on 16 ribs, forms a powerful radial nervous system. The harmonic severity of its appearance is conferred by the square section which exists by means of the relation between diameter (23 metres) and height (23 metres). It is also known as the Torre Sulis in that it was the prison which housed the tribune Vincenzo Sulis, hero of Cagliari riots against the French army towards the end of the 18th century.