Tour de Giraglia

The Tour de Giraglia (Corsican: Torra di Giraglia) is a Genoese tower located in the commune of Ersa (Haute-Corse) on the island of Giraglia near the north coast of Corsica. The tower sits near the northern tip of the island, 40 metres (44 yd) from the lighthouse at a height of 60 metres (200 ft) above the sea.

Tour de Giraglia
Coordinates43°1′37″N 9°24′20″E
Built1584
Designated11 February 2008
Reference no.PA2B000015
Location of Tour de Giraglia in Corsica

The construction of the tower began in April 1584. It was one of a series of coastal defences constructed by the Republic of Genoa between 1530 and 1620 to stem the attacks by Barbary pirates.[1] The design of the Giaglia tower is unusual in being square rather than round. The tower is owned by the French state and in 2008 was listed as one of the official Historical Monuments of France.[2]

Drawing of the proposed tower from the Genoese archives, 1582.

Notes and references

  1. Graziani, Antoine-Marie (2000). "Les ouvrages de défense en Corse contre les Turcs (1530-1650)". In Vergé-Franceschi, Michel; Graziani, Antoine-Marie (eds.). La guerre de course en Méditerranée (1515-1830) (in French). Paris: Presses de l'Université Paris IV-Sorbonne. p. 152. ISBN 2-84050-167-8.
  2. "Monuments historiques: Tour de la Giraglia, sur l'île de la Giraglia" (in French). Ministère de la culture. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  • Nivaggioni, Mathieu; Verges, Jean-Marie. "Les Tours Génoises Corses" (in French). Includes information on how to reach 90 towers and many photographs.


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