Torre Chianca is a seaside town of Salento, and hamlet of Lecce. The town is named after the 16th-century tower built by the Spanish to defend Salento against attacks by Saracen pirates. The ancient watchtower, which construction was started in 1569, is one of the most impressive of all the Salento's coast, 18 meters high and with the long sides 15,60 meters each; during the Second World War, it was used as an artillery emplacement.