Gulf of Saint Florent

The Gulf of Saint-Florent cuts into the northern coast of Corsica, west of the long peninsula of Cape Corse. The harbour town of Saint-Florent lies at its head beneath a Genoese citadel. Built in the fifteenth century, the fortress guarded the gulf and the approaches to Bastia across the island. A coastal tower at Mortella Point watched the entrance to the bay, where ships could approach the port from the Mediterranean.

In 1794 British forces arrived during the struggle for control of Corsica. The tower at Mortella Point resisted their ships before falling to an attack from land, and Saint-Florent became a base for operations against Bastia. The strong tower left a lasting impression on the attackers, who later adopted similar defences elsewhere.