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Torre Ventosa in Santi Cosma e Damiano: the Norman sentinel looking out over the Garigliano Plain
Torre Ventosa is a tower that stands on the hill of the same name in the village of Santi Cosma e Damiano, province of Latina. Standing 24 metres tall and built from limestone between the 12th and 13th centuries, it is a medieval Romanesque-style tower with a square base that served as a watchtower over the Garigliano Plain for centuries.
A network of towers to control the territory
It was most likely built by the Counts of Aquila, nobles of Norman origin, and it was not an isolated outpost. Together with the tower of Castelforte and that in Suio, it formed a sighting system that covered the entire Garigliano Plain, while the tower of Minturno and the coastal towers kept watch over the sea. It had no protective walls: its role was to monitor the northern area, meaning threats coming from Coreno, Cardito, and Aurito.
How to get in, and what it hides inside
The entrance was 7.20 metres above the ground, on the east side, and was probably reached by a ladder. Arrow slits let in the light. But the tower also hides a detail that not many people know about: inside, there is a cistern for collecting rainwater that flowed down through a tiled drainpipe. For a long time, this constituted a vital water source for the village.
Where to find it
The tower is located at Via Candole 2, 04020 Santi Cosma e Damiano (LT).
