Velate Tower

Velate Tower, locally known as Torre di Velate, lies next to the village of the same name, in the Varese province in the Lombardy region in Italy.

Velate Tower was built in the 11th century as a purely military watchtower to control roads coming down from the Alps and the Lake Maggiore to the plains of the Po valley. It was part of a string of defensive structures along these roads. It was severely damaged at the end of the 12th century during the war between the Viscontis of Milan and Della Torres of Como.

The structure, with a quadrangular plan, reaches about 30 meters in height, had 5 floors above ground served by an articulated staircase on the eastern side. Only 2 sides remain and only one is fully preserved. In 1989 it was acquired by the FAI, an Italian environmental foundation aimed at conservation of historical, artistic or naturalistic heritage in the country. They apparently restored it to its present appearance.

The restored Velate Tower looks like it was meant to be accessible to the public, as there were some benches and information boards around it. But the area was completely fenced off and the gate locked. Too bad.

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