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Examining the region of Basilicata (South Italy) represented in the Atlante Geografico del Regno di Napoli of Giovanni Antonio Rizzi Zannoni we can note the existence of a large number of place names related to a military field (Torre, Guardia, Castello, etc.). Although some of these are related to fortified sites abandoned or no longer exist at the time of the measurements of geographers, and after a first comparison with a census of the sites still active at the end of eighteenth century, we can note a high and uniform distribution of center of defense and observation. In addition to a direct defense in case of attack, the majority of fortified site were also intended to ensure the functioning of a network of sighting and signaling from the coast to the internal zones. What was the average distance between sites? What are those with greater visibility? What was the average time for any visual signals from the coast to inland areas? There were more protected than other centers? The whole site was connected to the main road site? In this paper, we will attempt to answer the question after a first comparison of the place names and the still active site at the time of the atlas and through the use of GIS applications.