It was built at the end of the 1500s and was a tower 'de armas', meaning that it housed a garrison comprising a commander, a gunner and three soldiers. The structure was also equipped with two cannons of eight and six-pound calibre.

Its main function was to control a stretch of coastline particularly exposed to pirate attacks, as the large beaches in the area made it an easy landing spot, ideal for supplying drinking water.

After the first restorations were carried out in 1605, the tower was attacked and set on fire by pirates in 1614. The tower was still operational at the beginning of the 18^th century, and this drove the construction of the town of Domus de Maria. After its decommissioning in the second half of the 19^th century, the tower was used by the Italian Guardia di Finanza to fight smuggling, until the 1950s.  After a major decade-long restoration in 1998, it became the venue for temporary exhibitions.

The building is about 13 metres high and features a chamber with a domed vault, supported by a large central pillar, where an access staircase of stone steps and juniper boards cut into the wall led to the upper terrace. The outer walls are made of sandstone squared blocks, probably taken from the ruins of the ancient city of Bithia.