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Dovecote Tower

Dovecote Tower

Type
Castle or fortress
Address
Località BalzoMontegallo (AP)

Source: site database.

The torre colombaia (dovecote tower) of Montegallo is a heritage site in the municipality of Montegallo, within the Sibillini Mountains National Park. Dovecote towers are rural buildings built to raise pigeons. This type of tower has been part of the rural landscape since the Middle Ages.

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On the map

Points from the site database. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors · Protomaps.

Where the Torre Colombaia of Montegallo is

The tower is in the municipality of Montegallo, which is part of the Sibillini National Park. The municipal seat is the hamlet of Balzo, founded in the 16th century, when the inhabitants of the old castle of Santa Maria in Gallo moved farther down the valley and reused most of its stones.

Around the Torre Colombaia in Montegallo

The Montegallo area preserves the memory of its fortified past. Of the castle of Santa Maria in Gallo, abandoned in the 16th century, there remain the half-buried outline of the church and an underground barrel-vaulted structure used as a water cistern. For a wider picture, see the page on the castles of the Sibillini Mountains.

In Balzo, around Piazza Taliani, stand the Rotonda, a circular palazzo from 1883, and Palazzo Taliani, from 1834. There are also the Palazzetto Branconi of 1640 and the 17th-century Church of San Bernardino. From the church a path leads to the scenic road and the Taliani pine forest.

Frequently asked questions

What is a torre colombaia?

It is a type of building used in different periods to raise pigeons. It was typical of the rural landscape from the Middle Ages and tied to feudal systems. Pigeons served agriculture, especially for fertilizing fields, and then hunting, food and protection. Military and communication uses were added later.

What does a dovecote tower usually look like?

In most cases the tower was circular, but it could also be square or rectangular. Inside were the small cells that housed the birds being raised. This describes the building type in general and not the Montegallo tower specifically.

Is Montegallo in the Sibillini Mountains National Park?

Yes, Montegallo is a municipality of the Sibillini Mountains National Park. Its municipal seat is the hamlet of Balzo, founded in the 16th century with the stones of the old castle of Santa Maria in Gallo.

Nearby

Straight-line distances.