During the 1880´s, on the western side of the city three new forts were erected. These are different from the older forts because of the different materials used in their construction, and because of the different disposition of the gun openings. Artillary was only present on the side that was exposed to gunfire; this blended in well with the terrain and the enemy could not see the artillary. In the armature of the barracks concrete was added. They are all constructed vey similarly. The forts are composed of an embankment on which cannons were placed: the emplacements on which they were situated were at intervals with trenches for the ammunitions. The scope of these forts was to block access from Alessandria.

Fort Monte Guano can be reached from theCoronata Santuary, by following Via Monte Guano. The barracks are at the top of the mountain of the same name. Its extremities were armed with four cannons of 12 ARC, also called "affusto corazzato" (armoured gun-cariage): this, along with three 57mm cannons with rapid-fire in a hidden tower, situated along the outer perimeter of the moat, was used to fight against the coast of Multedo; two mortars of 15 ARC (Ret) were placed on the sides of the barracks to fight against Borzoli. The Fort was occupied by a division of 50 men: in case of a war it could house 70 more.

At the beginning of the century, having lost its strategic importance, it was used to hold ammunition. At the end of the First World War, large quantities of "CORDITE", a powerful explosive, were placed inside. After the many protests of the local population, in November 1923, it was decided to transport the dangerous material to Turchino, in the forts of Geremia and Aresci (these structures will be analysed further on). During the transportation, on the morning of the 8^th of November, an explosion partially destroyed the barracks. This explosion most likely occured because of an accident - someone may have dropped of one of the cases. This caused many victims, and many were injured; it caused the partial collapse of the front of the barracks, and the complete destruction of the western angle. The Chapel at the beginning of the road was built in memory of the victims of the accident. The fortification remained abandoned until 1939 when it became the site of an anti - aircraft battery (the same point of view as the previous photograph). It was abandoned by the military at the end of the conflict. It was used, for a while as a refuge for some homeless families (publifoto). The fort remained completey uninhabited until the mid-seventies. Today every entrance is walled-in and it is therefor inaccessable.

The barracks, on two floors, were preceded by a moat. The only means of access was through the top floor (which is the only one actually visible on the outside ), with a drawbridge; here there is a corridor which accesses the inside. Along the corridor there are staris that go up to the post in the dome. On the service stairway some fascist mottos, painted on the walls, are still present. On the principle front of the barracks there is a plaque. Today the fort and the area surrounding it are on private property.

The road from Coronata finishes, today at the Cornigliano cemetery; originally it continued by Monte Croce, on the top of which was the fort of the same name, and to Casale Erselli. This had a trapezoidal floorplan, and was surrounded by a moat. Access was from the left-hand side with a drawbridge. Once inside there is, on the side, the watch guard area. In front are the barracks on one floor, with multiple access doors to the artillary storage area. Some matallic stairs permitted access to the firing line and the two towers with hidden 57mm cannons. The fort was also armed with four 15mm cannons and twelve 9mm cannons. It was provided with two "Northern Batteries" situated outside the structure, and was rappresented by other postations of artillary facing towards the West. During the last war, it was used for anti-aircraft artillary. In 1960 the Fort was demolished to flatten the hill, in order to obtain the terrain neccessary for the construction, on the originale space occupied by splendid beaches, of the airport of Cornigliano and Sestri. Only a small building remains of this fort, which is completely choked by vegetation, and now comletely inaccessable.

Fort Casale Erselli, situated 300 metres after, was constructed in the same way as the preceding fort; the only differenc is noticable in the barracks (which are longer) and the access, situated in the central area. The Fort gets its name from a farmstead no longer existent in that area. It can be reached by going up Via Erzelli; right before the container deposit, one passes the remains of the original access to the complex. From here the road leads to the Fort´s entrance, originally provided with a drawbridge. Artillary was pointed towards the sea and the west; externally, there were three Batteries to reinforce the artillary, so it resulted armed with 22 gun openings, of which there were cannons of 15, of 9, two of 57mm in a hidden tower, and two mortars of 15. The fortification is limited by a moat and is blended in with the terrain. It has a trapezoidal plan. The barracks are composed of numerous rooms, with a fortified ceiling covered in a layer of concrete. There were 60 men in the fort, to whom 100 more could be added in case of necessity. It was abandoned by the military only in 1945, after anti-aircraft equipment was installed inside; it was then occupied by homeless families, and is still inhabited today.

Two other fortifications are located in the area of Passo del Turchino, they have the same names as the hills on which they were built.

Fort Bric Aresci can be reached from Masone, by going up the road that begins from Acquasanta. With a deviation to the right, and an ulterior fork uphill to the left, the last part of the road begins - it is more or less disconnected. There is almost nothing left of this fort. The first ruins that one finds are the remains of the watchtower; beside it there is a large mound, beside which there was the barrack. This was a one-floor structure containing rooms and lodgings for 63 men. In front, dug into the rock of the hill there was the gunpowder storage. The firing line was in the back: and here one can still see, hidden, the small service reserves and the mounts for the six cannons of 12 BR (Ret). They were pointed towards Voltri-Masone.

On January 28, 1914, part of the fortification exploded. This caused many victims, and damaged the structure severly. Vegetation has almost completely covered the remains of the structure and the moat, only the gun openings are noticable.

In ordser to get to Fort Bric Geremia, you have to take the road to Passo del Faiallo. The complex, which was abandoned at the end of the lastwar, is not visible from the street. It is completely camouflaged and seems to be part of the mountain. The barracks are in stone and on two floors.

The buildings had been abandoned for over 50 years and had undergone some evident damage. Part of the barracks had given way. Many rooms were dangerous,and the original wooden loft collapsed some time ago. A "caponiera" (a room used to defend an important part of the fort) was placed on one end of the barracks in order to control and defend the access road and the space in front of the main entrance. Originally this space used to be a simple moat. On the main door you can still see traces of a small coat of arms. Guards from a hundred years ago left their names on the bricks of the side wall. In the back courtyard a gangway leads to a gun battery. The armament was made up of 2 9BR (Ret) and 6 12 BR (Ret) cannons. The targets were the "Spurs which make up the Turchino Valley- The hills between Sturla and Vezzola." The complex is almost completely surrounded by a double moat. In 1996 it was decided to "re-use Fort Geremia as a restaraunt and for overnight stays." Today, after its recent restoration, the fort looks like it originally did. The part which had collaspsed has been accurately restored. The windows are protected by metallic grates. The main entrance is protected by a robust door. The inside loft has also been restored. The battery has been accurately cleaned, and access to the gangway is protected by a gate.

The building will be destioned to make part of the Park of Beigua ed all'Alta Via dei Monti Liguri.

 Other images:

 Fort Monte Guano: the ruins of the original structure.

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