Buca

At the western edge of the medieval borgo, this Norman fortress stands as a compact, vertical statement of military intent. Its design follows the classic donjon model: a truncated pyramid with a pronounced sloping base, reinforced at each corner by circular towers. This solid lower section, once housing archers’ galleries and storerooms, now bears the marks of later adaptation. A staircase climbs to the upper terrace, from where the taller, rectangular body of the castle rises. Today, these upper floors serve as a weather station, a pragmatic repurposing entirely in keeping with the site’s long history of transformation. The crenellations along the roofline are a recent addition, but the original arrow slits and traces of fixed furnishings remain visible. Over the centuries, the fortress has been repeatedly modified to meet changing needs; its current incarnation, part ruin, part functional building, tells that story plainly, without embellishment.

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.