Torra di Roccapina, genoese coastal defence tower in Corsica
Torra di Roccapina is a small round tower on the coast of Corsica near Sartène, standing about 8 meters (26 feet) high with thick stone walls and narrow openings. Built from large fitted stones, it sits on the rocks overlooking Roccapina beach and offers views across the sea and surrounding landscape.
The tower was built around 1609 by Giovanni de Cauro as part of a defense system that the Genoese established from the 1500s onward to watch for pirates and enemy ships along the coast. It was officially recognized as a historical monument by France in 1994 and remains protected heritage today.
The tower takes its name from the rocky headland and nearby beach in the area. It demonstrates how coastal communities built their defenses as part of daily life, with guards stationed here to keep watch over the waters and warn of approaching dangers.
You can see and reach the tower easily on foot from the N196 road, as it sits near the beach. Wear sturdy shoes because the ground is uneven and can be slippery in places.
The tower has two large holes in its walls where sections of stonework have collapsed over the centuries. These visible damage marks show how nature and time have worn away at the structure, leaving it standing as a partial ruin rather than a complete building.
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