In the sixteenth century Don Pedro di Toledo, viceroy of Naples, had 366 look-out towers built along the coast within the territory of the Kingdom.  The task of the “Torrieri” was to light fires and fire gunshots in order to warn the local inhabitants and the next watchtower along the coast of the arrival of pirates from the sea, as it was necessary to resort to arms to prevent them from landing.   It was up to the “Cavallari” to guard the watchtowers and to patrol the beaches on the look out for privateers, immediately giving the alarm to the “Torrieri” and panic would spread to the cry of:  “To arms! To arms!  The church bell is ringing!  The Turks have arrived on the beach….” n the territory of Ricadi, only three are left:  Torre Marrana, Torre Ruffa and Torre Balì. Originally there were five:  Torre Marrana, Torre Santa Maria, Torre Marino, Torre Ruffa and Torre Balì in Santa Domenica di Ricadi where the commander of all the neighbouring towers was stationed and where everything was organised for the defence in time of necessity and where the alarm was given by means of tongues of flame by night and a column of smoke by day. Some of these towers are cylindrical in shape, others a truncated cone and are situated at about three kilometres from each other.