Chiavari Castle, Medieval fortress in Chiavari, Italy.
Chiavari Castle is a ruin complex sitting on a hilltop above the town and the Ligurian Sea. The walls still form visible structures that reveal the layout of the former defensive fortress.
The castle was founded in the 12th century following an agreement between Genoa and the Fieschi family to protect the coast from maritime raids. Over centuries it changed hands multiple times and eventually fell into ruin.
The name Clavari, later Chiavari, comes from the seafaring village the castle overlooked. In the 14th century the borgo was ringed by a wall with seven gates and fourteen watchtowers, whose remains can still be traced. Two water cisterns facing the keep were meant to sustain the garrison during sieges.
The ascent to the ruins follows Salita al Castello street, which leads directly uphill and is easy to locate from town. The site is open to visitors but requires sturdy footwear due to uneven ground and stone steps.
In 1278 Moruello Malaspina and Alberto Fieschi, allied to take the castle, held it for only eight days. The sources also record a 1172 siege by Opizzino Spinola, showing the stronghold was contested long before the Guelf and Ghibelline wars of the 14th century.
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