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The Torre di Coltellazzo, which has a truncated cone shape, with a base diameter of 12 meters and a height of 11 meters, looks out over the Phoenician-Punic city of Nora.

The Torre di Coltellazzo looks out over the Phoenician-Punic city of Nora. Like the Chia Tower, it was built on a hillock that formerly housed an acropolis in Phoenician times. The three ports of Nora can be seen from here. From the second half of the 16th century, the tower served to defend the inlets and fisheries from pirate attacks. It was in visual contact with the towers of Cala D'Ostia, San Macario and del Diavolo. The foundations of the tower rest on the remains of ancient structures from the acropolis of Nora, hence ‘Castellas’. The name ‘Coltellas’ dates back to the Middle Ages, but since 1740 the name of the tower has also been linked to the nearby sanctuary of Sant'Efisio, patron saint of Cagliari and Sardinia (the ‘Coltellas de Sant'Efis’). Geographers and military scouts identified the need to build a fortified guard post on the Coltellazzo rock, which was an ideal position for supervising the sea and the immediate hinterland. A guard post has existed from the beginnings of the 16th century, but the Torre di Costellas de Pula only came into operation in 1607. The tower has a truncated cone shape with a small vertical parapet, a base diameter of 12 meters, a wall thickness of about 2 metres and a height of 11 metres. The entrance, which opened about 6 metres above ground level facing south, led into an inner chamber, 7.5 metres wide with a domed vault, a central pillar and supporting ribs. It contained several rooms, including the Alcaide's (commander's) room, the soldiers’ quarters, the powder magazine, the storerooms, the pantry and the kitchen. To the right of the entrance is a staircase carved out of the wall that lead to the parade ground. At that time the terrace was covered by a "mezzaluna" (a ‘half-moon’ semicircular canopy). In the 18th century, the tower functioned as a ‘Torre de armas’, i.e. a heavy defence tower, with a garrison made up of four men, the gunner and the commander. Its role continued to be the protection of the marina. Between 1722 and 1728 the tower was transformed into a fort by the engineer Antonio Felice de Vincenti, assisted by the engineer Bellin and captain Audibert. Since the 19th century the tower has been subject to a number of arbitrary renovations that have changed its appearance. A traffic light for nautical signals has been placed on the new terrace.

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