FORT TORTAGNA

 

 

Once we reach the clearing of the Colle del Melogno, on the left, we take an old unpaved military road. After a few curves in the woods, we reach a fork. If we turn right from here, we can reach the Bric Merizzo Defence. If we turn left, after 200 metres, and crossing (by foot) a recently placed gate, we reach the top of the hill and Fort Tortagna.

The edifice is completely surrounded by a deep moat defended by caponiers, some with two rows of slits; these can be reached by tunnel. It is hidden from sight by weed-covered embankements ,so that we realize we are near it only when we are next to the main door. On the architrave we can find the name of the fortification engraved in the stone.

The one-storey  barracks are made of local stone. They housed logistics ordenance and face the Melogno side; they have the original iron grating and the remains of the fixtures. We can reach the inside by crossing a dangerous bridge (originally the drawbridge) and by passing throught the entrance foyer. The internal rooms intermittently show the original plaster; the structure shows traces of recent “excursions”. The rooms are connected by a corridor. In some places we can find traces of the fireplaces. Once we pass the barracks, we reach the court yard; here a plaque reminds us of the altitude above sea level. From this plaque, we reach the artillery emplacements by going up an uphill ramp , which still shows signs of the handrails. The artillery was made up of four or six 15 GRC (Ret) cannons and by two other 12 GRC (Ret) cannons, positioned in barbette  (in other words, facing the open sky). The emplacements were separated by the underground rooms of the ready lockers.

The edifices have been abandoned, and show signs of the devastation caused by vandals and simply by the years of lack of maintainence. All this notwithstanding, we can still find some evidence of the old military life of the building: on the entrance door we can find numerous signatures, carved in the brick by the guard. The Fort has not been abandoned.

Entrance is possible only once in a while, when the gate is not closed. One must be very careful of the dangerous drawbridge.

 

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