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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Tower of Colomba, also known as the Carabelli Tower (Torra Vechja in Corsica), is a house-tour built in the 15th century in Fozzano by the Carabelli family. This type of construction, called casa torre or casa forte, illustrates the defensive architecture adopted by the notable Corsicans of the time. Built in granite, it incorporates military elements such as mâchicoulis and a brace, while its interior, organized on three levels with sixteen pieces, retains a marked defensive character. Family furniture and paintings, still present in the 19th century, attest to its continuing occupation and its role in local history.

The tower is inseparable from the new Colomba de Prosper Mérimée, who stayed there for a month in 1840 to write his manuscript. Inspired by the location and history of the Carabelli family — to which the eponymous heroine belonged — the writer anchors his story in this authentic setting. The reference to the tower on the cadastre of 1867 (property of Jean Carabelli) confirms its sustainability, despite the changes in the 19th century. Its classification as Historic Monument in 1952 and its selection at the 2023 Heritage Lotto underline its heritage importance, although urgent works (such as the repair of the collapsed vault) are necessary for its preservation.

Architecturally, the tower is distinguished by its raised ground floor, accessible on one level thanks to the elevation of the land, and its two square floors served by an interior staircase. The defensive elements, combined with its residential use, reflect the social tensions and protection needs of the Corsican elites during the modern period. Today, the Tower of Colomba embodies both a material testimony of that time and a major literary place, linked to the work of Mérimée and to the cultural identity of South Corsica.

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