The Oddo Tower , approximately 30 meters high, is one of the symbols of Albenga. It was built between the 12th and 14th centuries, when the most influential families built the so-called "tower houses" : fortified dwellings, but also true symbols of power.
The tower has a square base measuring 4 meters per side, with a brick structure on a stone base. It is incorporated into Palazzo Oddo , and the two structures are connected by internal openings. It is the only tower in the city completely plastered and decorated all the way to the top, with false mullioned windows and authentic Romanesque mullioned windows on the top floor.
At the top, a Ghibelline battlement – the typical "swallowtail" – tells the story of the medieval city's political position.
The first document mentioning the tower is a will from 1625. Jurist Gian Maria Oddi donated the tower and palace to the city, on the condition that a school be established and a church be built dedicated to San Carlo Borromeo, the patron saint of teachers. The church was built in 1637 and directly connected to the palace. When the college moved in 1940, the building remained unused until 1979, when it was purchased by the municipality. Restoration work was completed in 2006.
Today, Palazzo Oddo is an important cultural center managed by the Gian Maria Oddi Foundation . It houses the "Magiche Trasparenze" exhibition, the Civic Library , the Musikalische Wunderkammer association, the Unitre , a conference hall, and temporary exhibitions. The church of San Carlo is now an auditorium.
Next stop
Ready for the next stage?
Use the map to move to the next point and press the “Go to next stage” button, which you will find at the bottom of the page, to access the relevant content.