The Tower by Marghanita Laski

A Tuscan tower fills a solitary visitor with dread. Is the cause vertigo, or something more menacing?

Joss Ackland reads a final tale to chill the blood.

In Marghanita Laski’s story, Caroline visits The Tower of Sacrifice, in Florence, built in 1535 by Niccolo de Ferremano who was said to have dabbled in black magic.

She climbs the 470 steps to the top, then finds herself fighting an impulse to hurl herself off. Caroline resists and climbs back down in the darkness, counting as she goes... into the five hundreds.

Abridged and produced by Richard Dunn.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 1986.