Visit Torre del Coltellazzo o di Sant'Efisio, Pula, Sardinia, Italy

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The Coltellazzo or Sant'Efisio tower is a coastal tower in the Gulf of Cagliari. It stands on the top of the promontory overlooking the ruins of the city of Nora, in the municipality of Pula. The tower, built near the remains of the acropolis of Nora, began to function in 1607, although the existence of a previous military settlement is attested from the beginning of the 14th century. Jorge Aleo, in 1680 , mentions it, calling it Fortalleza Coltellaz . In the 18th century the building was incorporated into a fort, erected between 1722 and 1728 based on a design by the Piedmontese engineer, Captain Antonio Felice de Vincenti. Further work was carried out in the 19th century, when the tower was equipped with a lighthouse. The Coltellazzo tower, also called the tower of Sant'Efisio since the 18th century, in memory of the warrior martyr, who tradition says was killed in Nora by beheading, was a tower de armas or gagliarda , or for heavy defense, with a garrison of men commanded by an alcalde (commander). It is in visual contact with the towers of Cala d'Ostia , San Macario and del Diavolo. Built in calcareous sandstone , with a truncated conical structure, it measures approximately 11 meters in height by 12 meters in diameter at the base and has an internal chamber vaulted with a ribbed dome, supported by a central pillar.

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