Tour de Colomba, Fortified tower in Fozzano, Corsica

The Tour de Colomba, also called Torra Vechja in Corsican, is a granite house-tower in Fozzano built in the 15th century by the Carabelli family. Its rough light grey and tan masonry rises into a tower with a sloping terracotta-tiled roof and irregular rectangular window openings, some without glass or frames. A lower stone wall section with a small crenellated parapet extends to the left. Inside, sixteen rooms are arranged over three levels.

The tower was built in the 15th century by the Carabelli family to defend against their rivals, the Durazzo family, during a long-running feud. It was officially listed as a historic monument in 1952.

The tower is also called Torra Vechja in Corsican and Tour Carabelli after the family that built it. Prosper Mérimée stayed a month in the house while writing the first manuscript of his novella 'Colomba', and the family furniture and paintings from that period are still there.

The tower is currently closed to visitors but can be seen from the outside, as it stands clearly above the village. A visit pairs well with a walk through Fozzano itself.

In 2023, the tower was selected as part of a national campaign to identify threatened historic buildings in need of care. Despite visible damage to the roof and walls, restoration work is planned to eventually open it to the public again.