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Its history
It was part of a group of fortifications that protected the territory of Porto Vecchio, along with the Fautea, Pianrellu, Benedettu and San Ciprianu towers. Thanks to these watchtowers, the inhabitants could observe the sea horizon and sound the alarm in the event of a pirate approach. The Genoese towers are physical evidence of the defensive organisation and defence of Corsica against barbarian invasions.
Today, their silhouettes have become typical symbols of the Corsican coastline.
To preserve this special heritage and open it to the public, the Conservatoire du Littoral, with the help of sponsors, has partially restored the tower.
Its architecture
The Fautea tower is circular in plan and surrounded by machicolations. Like all Genoese towers in Corsica, it has two levels and a terrace: the first level contains a cistern to collect rainwater and the second level is the guards' living quarters. An interior staircase leads up to the observation terrace surrounded by machicolations. Numerous vestiges of the life of the guards, the Torregiani, have been preserved: sink, oven, fireplace, niches, rainwater downpipe feeding the cistern, etc. The architecture of the towers is both minimalist (responding to a particular need and built quickly without superfluous features) and highly representative of Genoese military defensive architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries.
How to get there
Just past the village of Sainte Lucie de Porto-Vecchio on the way to Bastia, the tower comes into view. The starting point is just below the road, a 10-minute walk away.
