Castello di San Giorgio, Medieval fortress in Lerici, Italy
Castello di San Giorgio is a five-sided fortress standing on a rocky outcrop above the Gulf of Poets, with black and white stones used throughout its structure. The walls show solid medieval construction, the rooms are spacious, and windows offer views of the coast.
Pisan soldiers began building the fortification in 1152 as they established their presence in the region, and Genoese forces captured it in 1256 after years of conflict. The place played an important role in the power struggles between the maritime republics of the Middle Ages.
The chapel inside displays black and white stone tiles that create a distinctive pattern visitors immediately notice. The rooms tell stories of religious traditions that were lived at this place for centuries.
Visitors can use an elevator from the San Giorgio gallery to reach the fortress, which greatly simplifies access. The best time to visit is during clear weather, since the views from the promontory are most striking then.
French King Francis I was briefly imprisoned here after his defeat at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 and experienced the fortress as an extremely secure facility. This episode connected the small castle to major European events and made it a place of historical importance.
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