Built around the mid-1500s by the Cagliari entrepreneur Pietro Porta to defend the nearby tuna fishery (established in 1602) from Barbary pirate incursions, the tower of Piscinnì or Pixinnì looks over the coastline of Domus de Maria, between Capo Malfatano and Tuerredda.  It was part of a larger control system that also included the nearby towers of Capo Malfatano, Budello and Porto Scudo.

The first restoration work was carried out in 1605 by master Nicolau Cossu. Designed as a watchtower, initially had a commander and two soldiers assigned to it, but in 1801 it became 'de armas’, with the addition of a gunner. It underwent further restoration work in the following years until its complete decommissioning in 1847.

It has the typical and well-established shape of a truncated cone with merlons and crenels for cannons on top. Its chamber is a single central room with a domed vault supported by a central pillar, at about 4.5 meters above ground. Also inside this room is a fireplace and the stairwell on the right side.

A natural cavity on the cliff below the tower was sealed off in 1773 to prevent corsairs from using it as shelter.

About 100 metres to the east of the tower, there is a sandstone quarry that exploited the rocky banks of the cliffs, dating from the Punic period (5^th century BC) and probably used until the Imperial Roman period (3^rd century AC).