Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure, Military castle in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy.

Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure is a fortress located at the foot of a hill along the Ligurian Sea, equipped with defensive towers and stone walls that reflect 16th-century military architecture. The structure spans multiple levels of fortifications with viewing points overlooking the gulf.

The Republic of Genoa ordered construction of this coastal defense structure in 1550 to protect the region from raids by Barbary pirates. This purpose shaped the design and strategic location of the fortress for generations.

The castle was restored after World War I and dedicated to the fallen of that war, a memorial role it still carries. Its name comes from Santa Margherita, the patron saint of the town, and the building stands on the salita al Castello above the former shoreline.

The fortress stands on Salita al Castello, at the foot of the hill crowned by Villa Durazzo-Centurione, and was originally built right against the sea; the shoreline has since moved away. It is a compact structure, so a visit takes little time, and the surrounding streets climb steeply from the harbour.

The fortress was designed by Antonio de Càrabo and completed in just 6 months, showing how quickly the region responded to the pirate threat. Such speed for a project of this scale was remarkable for its time.