The Tower
The historical symbol of Calasetta since 1756, a witness to the town's foundation and its history.
The Savoyard Tower: Symbol of Calasetta
The Savoyard Tower is one of the most important and recognizable symbols of Calasetta, so much so that it is represented in the municipal coat of arms. This imposing fortification, built of local trachyte, stands at the highest point of the historic center, about 20 meters above sea level, dominating the village and the white beach below.
History and Construction
The Tower of Calasetta was built between March 1756 and June 1757, during the Savoyard era and before the official foundation of the town, which occurred in 1770. Although its truncated cone shape and building materials recall the Aragonese coastal towers of the island, this military outpost is clearly from the Savoyard period.
Architectural Features
The Tower has a characteristic truncated cone shape and reaches a height of 11 meters. It was built entirely with local volcanic stone (trachyte) blocks on a rocky base, following traditional construction techniques of the time.
Archival documentation shows that only easily available local stones were used for its construction, and not the ruins of the ancient city of Sulci (modern Sant'Antioco), as one might think. This demonstrates the builders' attention to using locally available materials.
Its strategic position allows for a complete view from its top over the surrounding coast, the historic center of Calasetta, and the sea, confirming its original function as a watchtower and control point.
Its Role in the Savoyard Defensive System
The Tower of Calasetta was part of the system of discovery and surveillance towers distributed along the coast of Sant'Antioco island and throughout Sardinia, desired by the Savoyard government to ensure the defense of the territory from pirate raids and smuggling.
Its construction preceded the foundation of the town by over ten years, demonstrating the strategic importance attributed to this point on the coast. The tower served as a lookout and communication point with other fortifications of the island's defensive network.
The presence of the tower significantly contributed to the choice of this location for the foundation of the new settlement in 1770, providing security to the first Tabarchine colonists from the island of Tabarka in Tunisia.
Visiting Information
The Tower today houses an Archaeological Museum
Managed by the MACC Foundation, the museum offers an exhibition itinerary that tells the history of the tower and the surrounding territory.
Hours and Tickets
- Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM-1:00 PM / 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
- Tower Ticket: 3 euros
- Combined MACC + Tower Ticket: 6 euros
- Height: 11 meters
- Access: Two internal rooms + panoramic terrace
What to See
- Archaeological museum with local artifacts
- Original internal structure of the tower
- Panoramic terrace with spectacular views
- Exhibition on the history of Calasetta
How to Get There
The Tower is located in the historic center of Calasetta, easily reachable on foot from the port and the main streets of the town.
The Tower as a Symbol of Identity
The Savoyard Tower is much more than a simple historical monument: it is the symbol of Calasetta's identity. A silent witness to all the events, sad and happy, of the people of Calasetta since the town's origins, it represents the historical continuity between the original Savoyard project and the community that developed around it.
Its presence in the municipal coat of arms testifies to the importance that citizens attribute to this building as a distinctive element of their history and culture. From its terrace, the view extends over the village, the sea, and the coast, offering a unique perspective on the beauty of the territory.
Today, thanks to the work of the MACC Foundation, the Tower has become an important cultural center that combines the preservation of historical heritage with the promotion of contemporary art, creating an ideal bridge between past and present.