The Ghibelline tower is an emblem of fortress history of Ortezzano and the most significant vestige of the medieval settlement. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries, when the village’s fortifications were reinforced, it stand as an uncommon example of military architecture due to its irregular pentagonal shape. With a height of about 15 meters, the tower is located in a key position northeast of the walls, and served as the main defensive structure and observation point, protecting the castle from incursions from the valley and enabling defense from above. Its pointed configuration, with the edge oriented westward, was designed to better withstand attacks. The upper portion is crowned by corbels and machicolations topped by a swallow-tailed battlement, features that testified to its origin in a period marked by conflict and armies. The tower was presumably built as part of the city wall, as suggested by the uneven brickwork of the eastern side.
With the introduction of firearms, the structure was modified to include new embrasures for arquebuses. Over the centuries, as its military function disappeared, the tower was adapted to serve local needs. In the 18th century, it was partly used to house services such as an abattoir and a bakery; in the mid-19th century, it was transformed into a bell tower; and in the early 20th century, it was used as a junction point for the power grid. Although now separated from the buildings that once surrounded it, the pentagonal tower remains the visual focal point of the old village.
