On the southern tip of the island of Sant’Antioco, within the “Turri” precinct, stands a historic watchtower, erected during the administration of Governor Lorenzo Bogino.
Under King Philip II’s Spanish dominance, he restructured the management of the coastal watchtowers built beneath his jurisdiction. For some time prior, the inhabitants of Iglesias were enthusiastic about establishing settlements on the island of Sant’Antioco and accordingly submitted a petition to the King of Sardinia, in which they expressed their willingness to support the construction of towers on the island.
In response to this strategic imperative, Viceroy Cacherano of Bricherasio was entrusted by King Carlo Emanuele III with the responsibility of overseeing the development of two previously approved towers on the island. The Torre di Sulcis, a 17th-century tower designed by Army Engineer Vallin, rises from the “Su Moru” cape, the southernmost point of the Sardinian island of Sant’Antioco, now commonly referred to as Turri.
Until the early 19th century, Turkish flotillas traditionally anchored along this section of coastline. During the French invasion attempt of 1793, The Tower played a vital role in providing crucial sighting and intelligence to the army departments responsible for defending the island of Sant’Antioco. Additionally, it fulfilled its purpose again in response to the final two Tunisian incursions that took place on the island in 1812 and 1815.
The Canai Tower retained its vibrancy until 1815. Currently, the tower is being utilized as a private residence by an individual, who has undertaken renovations that are open to interpretation. In 1994, the Italia Nostra association successfully restored the site to its former glory after acquiring it on a concession basis, partnering with the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage in Cagliari and the Ministry of the Environment to complete the project.
