Anyone who has walked or cycled along the coast of Cavallino-Treporti could not help but notice them: emerging among the vegetation, fields, and campsites are bizarre vertical structures, resembling narrow control towers or out-of-context buildings. These are the telemetric towers, silent witnesses of the First and Second World Wars that today find themselves at the center of a heated debate between tourism recovery projects and reports of abandonment.
Built mainly in the early twentieth century to defend the city of Venice, these towers (about a dozen remain along the coastline) served a strictly military purpose. A telemeter was placed on their summit—an optical instrument that allowed soldiers to calculate with extreme precision the distance of enemy ships in the open sea.
"An avant-garde mimetic architecture: the towers were built to look like normal civilian buildings or bell towers, deliberately deceiving aerial reconnaissance and blending into the flat, horizontal landscape of the lagoon."
In recent years, thanks to the creation of the historical circuit "Via dei Forti" (The Fortresses Route), the Municipality of Cavallino-Treporti has invested significant resources into saving this immense military heritage (comprising over 200 artifacts including forts, bunkers, and towers). Successful examples such as the restoration of the Vettor Pisani Battery and the Amalfi Battery prove that cultural and tourism redevelopment is achievable, attracting thousands of history buffs and cycling tourists.
All that glitters is not gold. Despite plans to include the twelve telemetric towers into a grand Open-Air Historical Park through concessions to private investors (with leases ranging from 9 to 50 years), the current state of many structures sparks harsh local discussions.
| Structure / Project | Current Situation and Critical Issues |
|---|---|
| Lio Grando Tower | Officially cataloged in the cultural heritage registers as being in a critical/poor state. Often subject to decay and wild vegetation. |
| Ca' Bodi / Ca' Crepaldo Towers | Historical buildings made of concrete and brick which, following military decommissioning, lie unused and closed to the public, awaiting buyers or investors. |
| The Private Tenders | The decision to hand over the towers to private individuals to convert them into accommodation facilities or artists' studios has divided public opinion: some fear a "commercialization" of historical heritage at the expense of free public access. Italian laws might not allow converting historical sites in Hotels or restaurants. |
Many local citizens and associations are pushing for restoration efforts not to be solely delegated to the commercial interests of private hotels or restaurants. Instead, they demand that the towers be maintained as civic, cultural spaces or public hostels for youth and artists, ensuring their architectural protection without stripping away their community identity.
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Should the telemetric towers be converted into private hospitality businesses to save them from collapse, or should the government fund their restoration to keep them entirely public? Share your thoughts with us!
Article by cavallinotreporti.blog. Sources and data updated regarding the state of cultural heritage and tenders from the Municipality of Cavallino-Treporti.
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