Warning! In the abandoned and therefore easily accessible structures, an eventual visit must be done with the greatest care. The lack of maintainence for many years has made the edifices architecturally unstable, with the continuous risk of collapse.

The Fortifications built in the 1800s in the Province of Savona were part of a complex defence project. This project was designed to halt the occupation of Piemente by invading armies.

For this reason, starting in the 1860s, a long series of modern fortifications were built, from Piccolo San Bernardino to the Ligurian strongholds described on this site. Unfortunately, the rapid evolution of artillery made the building of these complexes vane – they were already obsolete before they were finished.

The edifices built in Liguria from 1881 to 1895, included 10 fortified defences:

1) Colle di Tenda, Ventimiglia and Colle di Nava in the Province of Imperia

2) Zuccarello, Melogno, Vado, Savona, Altare, Giovo in the Province of  Savona

3) Turchino in the Province of Genoa

The Defences were placed along the paths which lead from the sea to Piemonte: the artillery, therefore, faced the coast.

 

Zuccarello Defence 

Melogno Defence 

Savona and Vado Ligure Defence 

Altare Defence

Giovo Ligure Defence

 

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