Torre del Poetto, Renaissance military tower in Borgo Sant'Elia, Cagliari, Italy

Torre del Poetto is a limestone tower in Borgo Sant'Elia, Cagliari, rising about 87 meters above sea level and overlooking Marina Piccola harbor and the long Poetto beach coastline. The structure is a solid, compact building with historical importance as part of the region's coastal defense network.

The Torre del Poetto was built in 1597 as a coastal watchtower on the Sella del Diavolo promontory above Cagliari. It formed part of the Gulf of Cagliari's chain of coastal towers, which included the towers of Mezza Spiaggia and Isola dei Cavoli. The limestone structure originally had a domed vault and stood seven metres high with a diameter of five metres. It is now split into two sections along its vertical axis.

The name comes from Torre del Pouhet del San Elias, referencing a nearby Punic cistern that locals call sa bucca de su tiaulu. This local name reflects the layers of history that different peoples left in the area.

The tower stands on the Sella del Diavolo promontory at 87 metres above sea level and is hard to reach; the approach is on foot from Marina Piccola or Cala Fighera. The building is half-ruined and split into two sections along its vertical axis, so the structure itself should not be climbed. Notify the military authority COMAR in advance before setting out.

From this vantage point, visitors can spot several other fortifications around the gulf, including the tower on Isola dei Cavoli. This arrangement shows how the old defense strategy linked multiple strongpoints together.