The Prata tower known “La Torretta” as is the neighbourhood in which it is situated,  is located on an ancient military outpost dating back to the Lombard era in the 6th to 7th centuries. Surrounded by  the  Casoli oak forests it was constructed around the 11th century from limestone, pebbles and bricks. In the late ancient period the Lombards of Benevento expanded their rule progressively towards the Sannio, firstly incorporating the area surrounding Chieti, and then towards the mid 7th century, the coastal strip that had previously been controlled by the Byzantines. The first documental evidence of the area named Prata dates back to the ninth century and was recorded in the memorandum of the Abbot Bertario who governed Montecasino from the year 856 to the year 883. The construction of the tower dates back to the period of encastellation when, in Abruzzo as in the rest of Italy, numerous towns were constructed with castles and towers for defensive purposes. The towers both inland and along the coast can also be found away from population centres in order to create fortified networks capable of defending the inhabitants from attack by invaders.The quadrangular lookout tower is still accessible and stands over the town of Casoli and the Aventino valley where it joins the Verde river. Since 1958 the Sant’ Angelo lake has extended along the base of the hill on which the tower sits. The basin, despite being of man-made origin, today represents an important habitat for flora and fauna.