Between the 16th and the 17th century, the Republic of Genes built a defensive system with towers on the Corsican coasts. They were used for monitoring the Mediterranean sea and defending against pirate attacks. They were built so they could be visible to each other in order to communicate with fire signals in the event of an alert. In the surroundings of Porto Vecchio, the Fautea tower communicated with the Pinarello tower at the south (in the background on the shot).