Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Genoese tower of Caldarello, located on the western coast of Figari Bay, dates from the late 16th century. Built of granite according to a circular plan, it is part of the network of coastal towers built by the Genoese to monitor the coasts and develop coral fishing. Its architecture is distinguished by the absence of traditional mâchicoulis, compensated by a defensive stretch above the entrance door, located to the south.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the tower played a strategic role as an advanced post of the citadel of Bonifacio, strengthening the protection of the region. Inside, a space divided into two levels housed a chimney, a tank on the ground floor, and a ladder access to the second floor. The exit from the staircase, protected by a heal, and the merlons pierced by square murderers reflect its military use.

Ranked a historic monument in 1995, the tower initially depended on the jurisdiction of Bonifacio. Its remarkable state of conservation makes it an architectural testimony of Genoese ambitions in Corsica. It also illustrates the adaptation of coastal fortifications to local economic challenges, such as the exploitation of coral, and to the military tensions of the time.

The town of Pianottoli-Caldarello, formerly called Caldarello until 1921, is part of a territory marked by rural and coastal history. The tower, a communal property, is now integrated into a preserved landscape, between natural environments and agricultural areas, reflecting the balance between historical heritage and environment.

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