Tornalla Tornalla
Introduction
The Tornalla tower, erected on board a precipice to 200 metres from the stream (Buthier), dominates by its position throughout the valley. Since it is not linked visually with other towers or castles and not dominates points of passage, it can be assumed that in the past has played only a function of control of the surrounding territory.
Architectural description
The tower, which in the 18 th century was called "des coursi", has octagonal plan and masonry in stone. The walls are thick 1.80 meters at the base and reduce to each floor with riseghe regular to accomodate the beams of the floors in wood. The entrance door is the only opening of the tower and is being put to 7 metres from the ground. The tower, high more than 11 metres, presents an external diameter of 7, 50 metres and one of about 5, 30 metres. Probably in starts more high there was an latrine now completely destroyed. The building is surrounded by the remains of a wall often are more than 1 meter. The conformation of the boundary brings them back the building to the type of the tower "castellata", and also its small size concept not to suggest the existence of a castle, unless that does not have lost the traces of other possible walls. In fact could be existed other bodies sitting directly on the rock and following taken away by the farmers for the construction of their homes. However, the lack of availability of space in the surrounding area of the tower and the lack of other openings, suggest that the building could serve the maximum as dwelling seasonal.
Historical background
The tower appears in the documents from 1197. Just before the 1253, the year in which the building was enfeoffed the lords of Quart, the Savoia shall order the demolition in case of infidelity of the lords of Oyace. The new owners it the tower giving it a form that still possesses today. The lords of Quart not willing never this building for the General Audiences, in fact in a written agreement of 1318 they lend the usual feudal tribute to the tower since did not fall into custom. The death of the last descendant male of Quart, the Savoia became Owners of all of its possessions with the exception of the tower that in 1389 was still owned the widow of the last lord of Quart. This is of particular importance because seems to confirm the assumption that attaches to a Tornalla a residential role. In 1412 the owner of the tower of Oyace was a prior of Aosta.
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