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Origin and history

The Genoese tower of Sacro is located at the end of Capu Sagru, under the current semaphore of the same name. It was part of the defence system put in place by the Genoese in the 15th century to protect the Corsican coasts from the barbaric invasions. These towers were generally built at the expense of the pievi (religious administrative divisions) or local communities, and served as a watchtower and signaling post between them.

The Sacro tower, now in ruins, only retains a cracked part of its base. Elements of the upper floor, collapsed, still litter the ground around the building. Its strategic location on Cape Sacro allowed to monitor a large part of the eastern coast of Cape Corsica, between Erbalunga in the south and Sisco in the north. This network of towers, including those of Erbalunga, Lavasina and Poretto, illustrates Genoese military effort to control maritime movements and prevent raids.

The historical context of its construction is part of a period of tension in the Mediterranean, marked by attacks by barbaric pirates (including Turkish and Maghreb) on the coasts of Corsica. The Genoese, which had dominated Corsica since the 14th century, gradually strengthened their coastal defences. The Sacro tower, although less documented than other fortifications of Cape Corsica such as that of Erbalunga, bears witness to this strategy. Its abandonment and ruin are probably due to the evolution of military techniques and the reduction of threats after the 16th century.

Unlike the more preserved towers like that of Erbalunga (16th century, partially rebuilt), the Sacro tower did not benefit from restorations. Its current state does not allow the precise determination of its original dimensions or interior arrangements. However, its location near the modern semaphore underscores its historical role as a watchdog, before modern technologies make these buildings obsolete.

The sources available, notably the references to the tower in studies on genoese fortifications in Corsica (like those of Daniel Istria), confirm its membership in this defensive network. No specific mention is made of this tower linked to major military events, unlike other sites in Cape Corsica such as Erbalunga, the theatre of conflicts between local factions and foreign powers (French, Turks, Genoese) in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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