Thanks to its strategic position, the Torre del Belvedere allowed control of the communication routes toward Rome and Naples, and it still offers breathtaking views that captivate visitors today. The top floor of the tower served as the guardroom controlling the drawbridge leading to the Casa del Cardinale, while the three lower floors were used as prisons.
For this reason, the Torre del Belvedere was also known as the “tower of the prisons.” The prison walls are covered with inscriptions and murals. The lowest floor housed a large room used for interrogations, torture, and executions. Visitors can still see today the pulley hanging from the vault and the iron ring set into the inner door jamb, through which the rope was passed to torture prisoners and force confessions of real or alleged crimes.
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