TOWER QUEZZI
Following the military road from Fort Quezzi, in proximity to the reservoirs of the Val Noci Aqueduct, a turn to the left shows a field occupied by Tower Quezzi. Built between 1818 and 1825, it is a cone-shaped construction, built as an addition to the fort. Halfway up its height there are supports, which hold up the cone-shaped roof.
The tower is defended for its entire circumference, by trap doors, originally designed with opening grates. The entrance, provided with a drawbridge, is protected by a semi-circular moat.
After passing the entrance, we note a service staircase, dug into one of the four main pillars, which descends to the two underground rooms. These rooms were used to store supplies and gunpowder. Two openings on the ceiling, now very hard to find, permitted the passage of materials.
The gunports on the two upper floors were originally provided with opening grates in the central part (which we can still see today in the towers of San Bernadino and Specola). The ceiling of the ground floor doesn't actually exist anymore. It is thought that it was formed by criss-crossed beams with grates in the four empty corners.
Using the service staircase one can access the top floor. Here, buried in dust, are the remains of the iron tie beams. It is supposed that when the floor was demolished at the end of WWII, these were left there. On the inside walls the original plaster can still be found. The top terrace, which we do not recommend accessing, was "bomb proof". It was a floor built in rods, on which was spread a layer of tar. At the centre there originally existed a small, marble covering, which could be opened to facilitate the clearing of smoke from gunfire, through a circular chimney connected with the inside.
The construction was abandoned by the military at the beginning of the century. In 1909 it was transformed into a characteristic restaurant. The structure is used today as a shelter for herds.