Specchia Giovannella

Specchia Giovannella (around the 3rd century B.C.), so called because of its proximity to the Masseria of the same name, rises among the olive trees in the countryside of Francavilla Fontana, a silent testimony to the ancient past of the Messapi land. 
The "specchie" are typical Messapian constructions with a circular base, built with the dry-stone technique, of limestone origin, whose exact function is still being studied. Sources of research distinguish between large and small specchie, the former probably having the function of watchtowers, the latter having no particular apparent use, although in several sites they show funerary purposes, with the presence of burials complete with grave goods.
The elevated position and the structural appearance of the Specchia Giovannella suggest an essentially military function, originally an observation point for the control of the territory, and today a place for contemplating the landscape, opening up the enchanting beauty of the Apulian countryside.