The Prarola Tower

One of Imperia's most picturesque and unique monuments is undoubtedly the Prarola Tower . This ancient defensive tower, perched on the coast and surrounded by the clear waters of the Ligurian Sea , was built on the Premartello rock, at the foot of the cliff near Borgo Prino in Porto Maurizio .

The small bastion is about four meters high and has a characteristic conical structure , designed to withstand the force of the sea waves over time. Dating back to the sixteenth century, it was part of a defensive complex designed to protect Porto Maurizio from Saracen attacks.

The tower was built between 1562 and 1564 , following an incursion by Barbary pirates from North Africa . The community in the Prino valley obtained permission from Genoa to build a lookout system consisting of a tower near San Lorenzo and another in Prarolo . During the night watch, the building housed six men charged with signaling the arrival of enemies coming from the sea, transmitting the alarm with smoke or fire signals .

Today, the stone tower , smoothed by frequent storms, stands amidst a breathtaking landscape. From the surrounding cliffs, from the Via Aurelia, from the Borgo Prino piers, or directly from the sea, you can admire a splendid panorama, take photographs of the sunset, or relax while listening to the sound of the waves.

In this little corner of paradise the water is particularly clear and the natural environment lends itself to relaxing boat excursions and snorkeling activities.