A tall tower to guard trade traffic towards Simplon
The tower, located in the historical centre of Varzo, is a massive construction with a quadrangular plan that rises five storeys, the last of which is an attic lit by large openings on all four sides, reaching a total height of about 14.5 metres.
The ground floor is divided into two parts: a vaulted public passageway and a closed room used as a cellar for the adjacent trattoria, which forms a single body with the tower. The trattoria was once a tavern, a 'stopover' where tolls were paid and the headquarters of the guild of horsemen, who managed the transport of goods across the Simplon.
A primitive tower must have already existed in the 14th century, as it is documented in the Statutes of Varzo of 1321. The tower was renovated in 1571 and two more buildings were added by the Della Torre family.
The tower is now owned by the municipality of Varzo, which has restored it and adapted it as a cultural venue.
The tower is located in the historic centre of Varzo, next to the town hall and the pre-Romanesque parish church of San Giorgio. The interior can be accessed during events. The tower is located along the route of the Via Stockalper leading to Switzerland via the Simplon Pass
Credits © Susy Mezzanotte
