The tower was commissioned by King Philip II of Spain and built between 1577 and 1599. Constructed using large granite blocks, it is 11 metres high and 19 metres in diameter. The external staircase was originally a rope ladder, while there were three rooms inside, in the middle of the living quarters. Nowadays, there is just one room where a large column supports the vaulted roof. A well, dug in the ground, supplied the garrison with rain water. During the era of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, a violent episode of the revolution of 1802 against the government took place inside the tower. Pietro Francesco Maria Magnon, an officer of the Savoy army and head of his troops, had enough foresight to understand the strategic importance of the site and the possibility of founding an entirely self-sufficient town there. Magnon’s insistence on this point is documented by a number of letters written to the sovereign and the kingdom’s high officials. His perseverance was rewarded on 12^th August 1808, when King Victor Emmanuel I issued the decree that approved the foundation of the new town.

 Getting here: The tower is approximately 800 metres from the main square in the direction of Rena Bianca beach, looking out over the Strait of Bonifacio.

 For more details, call: +39 349 8347698 | +39 347 7412166 | +39 392 0547979

The Roman occupation of this part of the island began with the ousting of the Carthaginians in 238 BC. The Romans built the first roads, the first aqueducts and baths and increased the prestige of the entire region. The Roman quarries found in various parts of the Galluran coastline are undoubtedly significant remnants of that period, particularly those of Capo Testa. You can still see rough-hewn, partly traced columns, some of which even have the makings of capitals that are clearly visible. The granite found in Capo Testa was undoubtedly one of the finest and was apparently used to decorate the villas of Roman patricians and to create the colonnades of important monuments.

Getting here: The quarries are found in the Capo Testa area, a peninsula approximately 3 km from the town. You can reach them from Rena Levante beach, on the right side of the isthmus.

The military forts found in the Gallura area are a feature of northern Sardinia’s coastal landscape and are an attraction for those who love history and nature. The most noteworthy forts found in the area of Santa Teresa include: the Garassini twin-purpose battery (built in 1920), located on the Punta Cuntessa nature trail, and the De Caroli and Ferrero coastal batteries (built in the period between the First and Second World Wars), located on the vast promontory of Punta Falcone.

Many of these forts blend in with their natural surroundings and you can still see the soldiers’ quarters, kitchens, wash houses and bathrooms in many of them.

You can also make out the armouries and machine gun housings. In short, a visit to these sites transports you back in time and helps you understand the history of our island, something that many people unfortunately are still unfamiliar with.

This area features majestic rocks and granite cliffs of incomparable beauty that form spectacular shapes. The lighthouse is a two-storey rectangular building topped by a white square-shaped tower with a lantern. The entire building, including the lantern, is 23 metres tall. Due to its strategic position on the Strait of Bonifacio, the Capo Testa lighthouse, built in 1845, is the most important lighthouse for shipping in northern Sardinia.

Getting here: Follow the signs for Capo Testa and continue, heading straight on, for approximately 4.5 km.