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Origin and history

The Genoese tower of Omigna was built in the second half of the 16th century by order of the Republic of Genoa, within the framework of a coastal defensive system against the incursions of the barbaric pirates. It was part of a group called the Land of the Four Towers, erected by the local populations of Paomia, Revinda and Salona, who were then refugees in Renno to escape the razzias. This round tower, 12 metres high, was strategically placed on the Punta d'Omigna, between the beaches of Chiuni and Peru, to monitor maritime approaches and protect the cultivated land of the coast.

In 1731, the tower of Omigna became the last refuge for 127 Greeks of Paomia, attacked by about 2,500 Corsicans rebelled against Genoese authority. After three days of siege, the besieged managed to escape to Ajaccio, marking a tragic episode of tensions between local communities and Greek settlers. The tower, classified as a historical monument by decree of 8 March 1991, retains architectural elements typical of Genoese towers: a blind level marked with bolt holes, a second level pierced by openings, and a crenellated terrace with mâchicoulis. Inside, a tank well and a stone staircase testify to its defensive and autonomous use.

The tower is part of a wider network of three genoese towers on the territory of Cargesis (Orchinu, Omigna, Cargesis), illustrating Genoa's desire to militarily control the west coast of Corsica. Its state of conservation, though partial, allows to study the genoese construction techniques of the sixteenth century, adapted to topographic constraints and external threats. Today, it is an emblematic vestige of Corsican defensive heritage, linked to the turbulent history of Greek settlements and local conflicts.

The Omigna site, including the tower and its surroundings, is protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral (170 hectares), highlighting its ecological and landscape importance. The rocky tip on which it stands offers a panorama of the Gulf of Sagone and the hinterland mountains, reinforcing its tourist and historical appeal. The tower remains a symbol of the resistance of local populations to invasions, as well as the Genoese strategy of controlling the territory by coastal defensive structures.

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