About 10km south of Nettuno, Torre Astura sits directly in the Tyrrhenian Sea, connected to shore by a narrow stone bridge. The tower is the only structure along an otherwise flat, endless stretch of sandy coastline, which means it commands the frame from almost any angle you shoot it. The fortress itself is a compact, walled castle with a unique tower, built by the Frangipane family in the 13th century on top of an ancient Roman villa. The Colonna family rebuilt it in 1426 with warm golden stone that catches light beautifully in the late afternoon. The bridge creates a perfect leading line from the beach straight out to the tower. At the base of the fortress, Roman ruins are visible just beneath the surface of the water and poking through the sand, which adds extra texture and layering to the foreground. You can't go inside the castle, but the exterior and stone arch bridge are incredible photogenic on their own. Getting there takes some planning. From the parking area, it's roughly a 20-30min walk through a pine forest along a canal before you reach the beach and the tower comes into view. There are no services out there, so bring water and anything else you need. (Nettuno, Lazio, Italy)
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