Genovesato (Genoese area) - Turismo in Provincia di Genova

GENOVESATO
TRACES OF HISTORY
The Great Walls of the Superba
Fort Diamante Fort Puin
20
The new city walls were constructed around
the higher parts of the city (1626-1639), to
protect the city centre from attacks from the
franco/piedmont military forces; they
stretched, on the eastern side, from the
mouth of the Bisagno River to the Peralto
Mount, and to the west up until the
Lighthouse. Totalling almost 20 km in length,
and reinforced by 18 forts, they were
constructed taking advantage of the natural
defences provided by the mountainous
amphitheatre just behind Genoa. Most of the
city walls have been destroyed, but most of
the forts, and some of the large city gates and
military works of defence, remain intact. The
entire area (800 hectares) is now the Urban
City Wall Park (www.forti-genova.com),
where Mediterranean scrub gradually gives
way to holms and hop hornbeams, as one
ascends up the mountain. There are squirrels,
boars and foxes living in this park and it is a
stopover for migratory species of birds, such
as the short toed eagle and the honey
buzzard. It is easily reached by car or with the
cable cars of Granarolo or Righi. You can get
there on foot, following the traces of the old
military road which ran from fort to fort. It is
an evocative walk which takes up almost a day.
Once having climbed up to Righi, you can walk
along the line of the Mura delle Chiappe, up to
the Fort of Castellaccio, then, follow the dirt
roads and paths to Fort Sperone, which rises up
from a peak of the homonymous Mount. It’s
possible to visit Fort Puin (1815-30) and Fort
Diamante, the highest point of the excursion
(667 m), and the furthest out posted of the
defence system, featuring a double star
fortification. It’s possible to return from Fort
Sperone by making a little detour which leads
to Fort Begato (1818-36), Fort Castellaccio
(early ’800's) and Fort Tenaglia (1815-36)
before returning to the city. Along the cliff tops
which join up the forts, a complex system of
trenches, embankments, drystone walls, and
palisades are still visible. These helped defend
the city from Austrian and French attacks,
between 1756 and 1810. Fort Santa Tecla
(1747 -51), located in the neighbourhood of
San Fruttuoso, together with Fort Begato, is the
only one to have been recently restored. In its
more than 25 rooms, great halls and weapons
room, the history of "La Superba” is retold.