The Tower of Rio Marina, historically known as Torre degli Appiani, stands as the iconic landmark of the town, overlooking the entrance to its harbor with its distinctive silhouette. Built in 1534 by Prince Jacopo V d’Aragona Appiani, the tower originally served as a strategic outpost to protect the port and the valuable iron ore stored nearby, transported from the surrounding mines. It formed part of Elba’s coastal defense system, strengthened under the guidance of Cosimo I de’ Medici to counter the frequent raids of Turkish pirates.
Constructed with local stone and originally plastered, the tower features a polygonal plan—described by some sources as hexagonal and by others as octagonal—and rises to a height of approximately 30 meters. A partially preserved marble inscription on the exterior still recalls its founder.
In 1882, coinciding with the establishment of the new Municipality of Rio Marina, the structure was restored and enhanced with a small square turret housing a three-sided clock. Since then, it has also been known as the Clock Tower.
After a long period of neglect, the tower underwent significant restoration work. Its clocks were refurbished thanks to the contribution of Locman, a renowned local watchmaking company. Today, the Tower of Rio Marina is municipally owned and managed by the Pro Loco of Rio Marina and Cavo, hosting exhibitions and cultural events. Visitors can explore its interior and climb to the panoramic terrace, which offers sweeping views of the town, the harbor, and the eastern coastline of the island.
Dove si trova: Lungomare Fulvio Cignoni
Altre informazioni: non è possibile visitare l’interno della torre
