Torra di a Parata

The Parata Tower (Corsican: Torra di a Parata, French: Tour de Parata) is a ruined Genoese tower located in the commune of Ajaccio, Corse-du-Sud, on the west coast of the Corsica. The tower sits at an elevation of 55 metres (180 ft) on a rocky promontory, the Pointe de la Parata, to the north-east of the Îles Sanguinaires archipelago.

Parata Tower
Native name
Corsican: Torra di a Parata
Coordinates41°53′43″N 8°36′30″E
Built1550-1551
ArchitectGiacomo Lombardo
Location of Parata Tower in Corsica

The tower was built in 1550-1551 by Giacomo Lombardo. 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 tower is 12 m (39 ft) in height and has a diameter of 7.3 m (24 ft) at the level of the roof platform. It contains two vaulted rooms, one above the other.[2]

In Genoese documents the tower is called the Sanguinera di Terra. A similar tower which once sat on the highest point of the Grande Sanguinaire island was called the Sanguinera di Fuori or the Sanguinera di Mare.[3] The Grande Sanguinaire tower was demolished in the 19th century when the existing lighthouse was constructed.[4] A second small tower at the south-west end of the Grande Sanguinaire island has survived. In a Genoese document it is referred to as the torretta piccola (little tower). It is now called the Torra di Castelluchju.[5]

  • Section though the tower
  • Plan of the lower floor
  • Tower and the Îles Sanguinaires

See also

References
  1. Graziani 2000, p. 107.
  2. Fréminville 1894, pp. 50-51.
  3. Graziani 1992, pp. 84, 135.
  4. Cubells 2007, p. 73.
  5. Graziani 1992, p. 85.

Sources
  • Cubells, Jean-François; et al. (2007). Un site, des monuments La Parata et Les Sanguinaires: Pour une étude pluridisciplinaire du patrimoine historique et naturel de la Corse (PDF). La Ville d’Ajaccio et le Conseil Général de la Corse-du-Sud. ISBN 978-286-620-201-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Fréminville, Joseph de (1894). "Tours génoises du littoral de la Corse". Bulletin archéologique du Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques (in French): 47–57.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) The article was also published separately: Fréminville, Joseph de (1894). Tours génoises du littoral de la Corse (PDF) (in French). Paris. OCLC 494605587.
  • Graziani, Antoine-Marie (1992). Les Tours Littorales (in French and Italian). Ajaccio, France: Alain Piazzola. ISBN 2-907161-06-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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. ISBN 2-84050-167-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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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