Castle of San Terenzo, Military museum castle in Lerici, Italy
Castle of San Terenzo is a fortification with stone walls built on a promontory overlooking the Gulf of La Spezia and includes a square defensive tower. The structure combines different building phases and contains multiple rooms now used for museum displays.
The structure originated as a 12th-century watchtower that was later expanded by the Genoese Republic in the 17th century. These renovations were part of a larger coastal defense system meant to protect the gulf from naval attacks.
The fortress sits near the harbor and remains a place where visitors can sense the maritime connections that shaped this region. Its location on the coast reveals how important the sea was to the community that built and maintained it.
The best approach is via a steep footpath that requires physical effort and good footwear for the climb. Parking is limited nearby, so arriving early in the day makes the most sense.
During World War II, German forces occupied the structure and installed surveillance equipment to monitor ships moving through the gulf. Traces of this wartime function remain visible on site today.
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