ASTURA TOWER

 

ASTURA TOWER (TORRE ASTURA) The Astura Tower, a medieval fortification built on a small island connected to the mainland by a long wharf, is located 12 km from Nettuno and is deflnitely one of the most impressive sights of the Latium coast. Indeed it is visible from a great distance standing isolated against the surrounding flat countryside. Even the early Strabone had indicated a landing place at the mouth of the Astura river, the most important water course between the mouth of the Tiber and Circeo. Most probably it was bere that the port of the ancient city Satricum was located, which was set shghtly more inland along the same river. Cicero owned a villa in this area, where he stayed at length between 45 and 44 B.C., and it is therefore quite feasible that the ruins of the villa on the promontory are in fact the remains of the residence of the great orator. During the imperial era the villa underwent transformations and an artiflcial harbor was built, whose two arms are visible, detached from the fish pool. It was bere that during medieval times the castle was erected.

The first recorded testimonies of the castle date back to the twelfth century, when it was owned by the Frangipane family, though it is likely that a flrst tower was built during the time of the counts of Tuscolo, the previous lords of the entire area. The castle was the scene of the capture of Corradino di Svevia in 1268 when he look refuge there after his defeat at the battle of Tagliacozzo. Giovanni Frangipane handed over the young prince to the emissaries of Charles of Anjou who had the prince decapitated in the public square in Naples. To avenge that 1268 betrayal, a Sicilian fleet destroyed the castle which was nevertheless later rebuilt. After passing into the hands of the Malabranca family, in 1367 the Astura Tower became the property of the Orsinis and, in 1426, it was transferred to the Colonnas along with Nettuno, to be deflnitively sold in 1594 to the Apostolic Camera.