Torrione di Borgo Coscia

A massive circular tower of stone and brick rises beside the seafront at the edge of Alassio's old Borgo Coscia. Built by the Republic of Genoa in the second half of the sixteenth century, the Torrione formed part of the coastal lookout network against raids from the sea and survives as one of the region's best-preserved towers.

Why it matters

The tower reflects the defensive system Genoa established along the Ligurian coast during the sixteenth century. Its circular, heavy form was designed for coastal surveillance and protection, and its preservation makes it a landmark of Alassio and of the old fishing quarter at Borgo Coscia.

What to notice

The round plan and thick wall of stone and brick give the tower a strikingly solid profile. Its small openings contrast with the lighter houses of Borgo Coscia at its edge. The tower's position faces the bay and Isola Gallinara, making clear the coastline it was built to watch.

Context and history

Local builders constructed the Torrione in the second half of the sixteenth century as part of the Republic of Genoa's chain of coastal lookouts against pirate raids. Although its military role has ended, the structure remains an enduring feature of Alassio's seafront and a reminder of the defensive history of this coast.