Genoese tower Torra di a Parata, Ajaccio, Corsica, France
© Jon Ingall/Alam
Torra di a Parata, Corsica, France
Close your eyes and imagine the sound of the waves amid this wonderful sunset in Corsica. Built in 1550–-1551, the Genoese Tower of Parata is a defence tower located on the peninsula of La Parata, about 15 kilometres west of Ajaccio, Corsica. It was built in the 16th century by Giacomo Lombardo, a Genoese chief mason, and is part of a set of 90 Genoese towers intended to defend the Corsican coasts from maritime attacks.
The tower of Parata offers a breathtaking view of the Sanguinaires Islands, a small archipelago composed of four rocky islets located in the Gulf of Ajaccio. They take their name from the red rocks that seem to take on a blood hue at sunset. The Grand Site of the Sanguinaires Islands and the Pointe de la Parata have been awarded the 'Grand Site de France' label, which rewards the commitment of local stakeholders to the preservation and sustainable management of the site.