Forte Tenaglia, Military fortress in Sampierdarena heights, Genoa, Italy
Forte Tenaglia is a military fortress in the Sampierdarena heights that rises about 208 meters above sea level and overlooks the Polcevera valley. The structure features two distinctive bastions with stone walls and multiple gun emplacements built to protect the terrain below.
The fortress was built in 1633 on the site of an earlier structure from 1478 and became part of Genoa's New Walls system. These walls were designed to protect the city from land-based attacks and remained important to Genoa's defense strategy for centuries afterward.
The name 'Tenaglia' refers to a pincers shape, describing how two bastions extend outward to control passage through the valley below. This distinctive layout tells you much about how soldiers thought about defending the city from specific directions.
The best way to reach the fortress is by hiking from the Belvedere viewpoint or by taking public transportation to the surrounding area. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water with you, as the climb is steep and there are few shaded spots along the path.
During World War II, concrete platforms for anti-aircraft guns were installed on the fortress, and they remain visible within the original 17th-century stone structure. These later additions show how the site was repeatedly adapted to meet new threats across different eras.
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