South Italy Castles and Coastal Towers

The History of Coastal Towers goes hand in hand the political and military evolution of the Kingdom of Naples. Fortifications were built in Southern Italy over and eight-hundred-year period from the 9^th to the 17^th centuries. The original towers were cylindrical in shape, tall and with small windows. Their main function was to sound the alarm when pirate ships were sighted through the lightning of fires, allowing the local population to find shelter into the hills and grottoes inland from the coast.

Increased Raids during the 16^th Century led to Development of More Complex Coastal Defenses

Naples Viceroy Don Pedro of Toledo ordered the construction of massive, square-shaped towers with thicker external walls. The transition from circular-shaped towers to square-shaped ones was spurred by the introduction of artillery requiring fortifications whose functions now included sighting, signaling, shelter as well as the use of offensive weapons that could hit a ship approaching the coast.

Communications were carried out through a series of visual signals - smoke in the daytime, fires by night as well as acoustic signals such as bells, or shots from a cannon or arquebus, a precursor of the rifle. When a pirate ship was sighted from one tower, one of these signals would be used to warn the people of the area to prepare to fight or flee. The signal would be passed from tower to tower, up and down the coast, passing the word quickly and effectively. The ground level floor had no windows and was set directly above a large cistern to guarantee a constant water supply. This space was used to store food and munitions and also contained a millstone for grinding wheat, making the tower self-sufficient.

Saracen Towers can be viewed along the Southern Italian coastline from Gaeta to the Sorrento peninsula, the Amalfi and Cilento coasts. There are over 350 towers, including 30 along the coastal strip from Vietri sul Mare to Positano. Some have been restored and incorporated into modern buildings in small harbors such as San Marco, Pisciotta and Marina di Camerota. Further south, around Cape Infreschi just before reaching Scario, there are cliffs along the coast unreachable by road; here the original coastal towers stand just a few hundred yards apart.

The Term Saracen has shifted over time. Ptolemy's Geography from the second century mentions Sarakene as a region in the northern Sinai Peninsula and refers to a people called the Sarakenoi. For Italians during the middle ages it meant Muslim invader, from the Arabs who rode the initial wave of Islamic expansion into Spain and Sicily in the 8^th and 9^thcenturies to the Ottoman Turks who took Constantinople in the 15^th century.

Coastal Watchtowers were also as a point of reference for friendly ships. The towers were generally manned by a military team of four guards and a horseman, who often remained outside the tower ready to ride into town to carry a warning as soon as possible.

Smart Trip Planning

Logistics Locations Costs Time and Personalized Travel Solutions

Most Travelers to Europe and North America tend to visit three to four metropolitan areas in a compressed period of time, typically 7 to 10 days, especially when traveling as a family or group, with the former likely to include small children and the elderly and the latter comprising multiple interests ranging from cultural to culinary, wellness and the environment. Similarly, business travelers are in need of an efficient plan to meet their trip objectives.

Logistics the success of a business trip or vacation rests largely on the proper management of logistical issues; how to get to a place and how to get around once you are there are the keys to staying within budget while visiting all the places planned along your route.

Locations and knowledge of the territory implies know how in the communities you are visiting as well as up to date information on issues ranging from the weather to road traffic flows on a particular day and time of day to potential strikes and other stoppages by public transit providers.

 Costs many travelers are limited by cost considerations in the planning of their trip. The allocation of funds for accommodations, meals, site seeing and transfer costs is another key element to successful trip planning and, once the traveling client’s preferences in these areas are defined, it is the task of the travel planner to negotiate, allocate and manage these line item costs.

the less time in transit the more time on your actual vacation the less stressful your trip

Time in many ways time management is the most important element in trip planning. Factors ranging from time zone differences, best times of the day and mode of transport for travel from point A to point B, accommodations check in/out, excursions, events and meeting times must be accounted for in organizing schedules.

Personalized logistics, location(s), cost and time issues defined in the context of agreed upon client choices, trip preferences can be factored in, ranging from accommodation type and location, the mix of private and public transit services, food preferences and more.

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Solutions the travel expert who is tasked with planning, implementing and managing your trip is intimately familiar with the places you are visiting and, by definition, is also able to make adjustments and changes to your travel program even when you are on location.  A successful trip is defined as:

Traveling in one direction and not having to retrace your steps for example to board you return flight.

Anchoring your stays in strategic locations along the trip route, conveniently located to local points of interest, minimizing the number of accommodation changes, hence fewer times packing and unpacking as well as lower accommodations and transport costs.

Taking in sites, meals and other planned events in a hub and spoke fashion – again saving time and money – but also an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the places and the people you are visiting.

Planning Your Trip assumes uniquely local dimensions wherever you go; the activities that you, the visitor – local, or global –  select and irrespective of the length of your stay, are unique of the community you are visiting and rooted into the local economy, history and traditions. TEMA develops personalized travel itineraries based on client interests by leveraging an in-depth knowledge of your destination, superior client service in the planning stages and throughout the trip or event as well as logistics expertise to reduce your travel costs and transfer times. tema@arezza.net | skype arezza1

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