Fort Castellaccio, Military fort in Genoa, Italy

Fort Castellaccio is a fortification perched on a hillside above Genoa with two barracks and an octagonal tower made of red brick. The tower, called Torre Specola, sits on a rocky ridge and dominates the overall structure of the site.

Fortifications first appeared at this location in 1319 when Guelph families of Genoa built a castle with walls and moats. Over time the site was rebuilt and reinforced multiple times to meet changing military needs.

The fort's name comes from the medieval castle that once stood here. The walled gallery linking the Tagliata Nord to the fort is now bricked up, and its guardhouse houses a small restaurant. The barracks facing Val Bisagno and the Torre Specola stand abandoned.

To reach the fort from central Genoa, follow signs toward the Righi neighborhood and continue along the old military road called Via del Peralto. The path is steep so wear good shoes and allow time for the uphill walk.

The Torre Specola's rocky spur was called the "quadrato delle forche" (square of the gallows): from the 16th century to the end of the 18th, executions by hanging took place there, not by throwing people from the height. The octagonal brick tower was built over it between 1817 and 1825 to Giulio D'Andreis's design.