A building of great interest, the castle is a unique example of its kind in the area. There are no documents indicating the exact year of construction, therefore it remains uncertain. It is also difficult to determine the construction period of the actual structure, mainly because it underwent several building phases, as a result of the frequent struggles and battles. The outer wall seems to date back to the late medieval period, between the 12th and 13th century, while the tower seems to be a way more modern remake of an ancient structure. Some scholars trace it back to Roman times, others to the 9th century. Today the tower is more than 28 meters tall with a diameter of almost 6 meters; its wall is 1.70 meters thick at the base. The fort was built to control several routes connecting Genoa with the Piedmont.

At the beginning of the 14th century the Genoese Spinola family acquired the estate and became lords of the manor. They chose the castle as a temporary residence to better control and defend the town and most of the surrounding valley (the nearby towns of Rossiglione and Masone remained properties of the Republic of Genoa). The castle became the undisputed symbol of the family.

After a deterioration of relations between Campo and the Republic of Genoa, strengthening the defensive structures of the castle became a pressing issue. In 1310 they were further fortified with the construction of new walls and three cylindrical towers.

Those towers were modified in the 15th century; several underground passageways were also created to connect the castle with the village of Campo. Following the revolutionary events occurred in the 18th century, the castle was abandoned by the Spinola family.

The devastation suffered by Napoleon's soldiers at the beginning of the 19th century led to the abandonment of the castle, which was only used temporarily by German soldiers during World War II. In 1986 it was bought by the municipality of Campo Ligure that began the modern restoration work in the 90s, led by architect Bruno Repetto. The restoration aimed at preserving the ancient elements while also enabling the fruition of the tower and its body as public spaces for activities like concerts and exhibitions. Nowadays you can enjoy a magnificent view from the castle, especially from the top of the tower.

http://www.comune.campo-ligure.ge.it

Spinola Castle 

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Forte di Gavi: Historical Overview
 	
The Origins of the Castle
The origins of the Gavi Castle are difficult to establish reliably, due not only to the lack of supporting documentation but also to the countless legends that inevitably arise around such structures and are handed down over the centuries. Nevertheless, we can reasonably assume that fortifications must have been built, possibly in the pre-Roman era, on the prehistoric natural "stronghold" that overlooks the town of Gavi even today.


The Earliest Documents
The existence of Gavi Castle is proven by a document from the year 973 and, subsequently, by an imperial diploma signed by Henry VI, son of Frederick I, better known as Frederick Barbarossa. With this deed dated 30 May 1191, the ruler enfeoffed the castle and hamlet of Gavi, and its annexes, to the Republic of Genoa. Gavi Castle was ruled by the Genoese – albeit with alternating fortunes – until 1418, when it was taken over by the Seigniory of the Visconti family of Milan following a war. The Visconti invested the Fregoso family with the fief of Gavi and the old castle, and the Sforzas then transferred the investiture to the noble Guasco family of Alessandria. The Guasco family, also the lords of Francavilla, continued to be the feudatories of the village and castle of Gavi until 1528.


The Return of the Genoes
On 14 November 1528 Count Antonio Guasco sold the Republic of Genoa all existing rights over Gavi Castle (along with the village and surrounding area) for "a thousand positions" in the Banco di San Giorgio. Consequently, the Republic of Genoa regained possession of Gavi Castle, owning it uninterruptedly from 1528 to 1815 when, following Napoleon's defeat, the ancient Genoese republic was also abolished and was annexed to the new kingdom ruled by the House of Savoy.


The Castle Becomes a Fort
Over the centuries extensive architectural work was done on the castle, transforming the ancient structure into a powerful fortress. The first radical changes to the old castle were implemented in 1540 by Giovanni Maria Olgiati, military engineer in the service of the Republic of Genoa.
Olgiati designed and completely reconstructed all the walls surrounding the old castle, building new bastions and consolidating the original structure. Olgiati's work transformed the original structure of the castle into a true fort.


The Fort Becomes a Fortress
During the 17th century the castle – a fort at this point – was radically transformed yet again into the fortress we can admire today. The Republic of Genoa entrusted the plans to enlarge the structure to a Dominican friar, Vincenzo da Fiorenzuola (born Gaspare Maculano). Famous also as the inquisitor in the trial of Galileo, Vincenzo da Fiorenzuola was not only a religious but also one of the era's great experts on military architecture. The work to transform the fort into a great fortress commenced in the spring of 1626 and was completed – at least formally – in the summer of 1629.


The 18th Century
In reality, work to enlarge both the interior and exterior of the structure continued until the early 19th century. The redoubt of Monte Moro, connected to the fort by a fortified gallery, was built on the east side. Lodgings for soldiers and officers, wells, a powder magazine, guardhouses and parade grounds were constructed inside. This work was planned by the most famous military engineers of the era, such as Stefano Scaniglia, Domenico Orsolino, Pietro Morettini and Pierre De Cotte – to name just a few of the architects who, in turn, helped complete this imposing fortress.


The King of Sardinia
In 1859, during the reign of Vittorio Emanuele II, the ancient Genoese fortress was disarmed and transformed into a civilian prison, depriving it of its historical identity. During World War I it was turned into a military prison for Austrian prisoners of war and Italian deserters. Between the two world wars, the Anti-Phylloxera Association planted experimental vineyards on some of its earthworks. With the advent of World War II, the fortress was used as a detention centre again, initially housing English prisoners, followed by Italian soldiers after 8 September 1943.
In 1946 the fort was entrusted to the Piedmont Superintendence of Environmental and Architectural Heritage, which in 1978 undertook constant and ongoing work to restore and protect this rare example of military architecture. The Amici del Forte di Gavi Association was founded recently under the auspices of the Superintendence. and it has taken on the responsibility of promoting and enhancing this extraordinary Genoese military structure.

http://www.fortedigavi.it

Forte di Gavi

Il castello di Savignone, attualmente in rovina, fu un tempo fortezza e residenza padronale nonché oggetto di battaglie ed assedi. È anche un luogo di leggende. Si trova incastrato su un roccione di puddinga - denominato "Conglomerato di Savignone" - che sovrasta da un'altezza di 150 metri il comune di Savignone, nell'alta valle Scrivia.
Architettura
Il suo recinto murario è rafforzato a meridione dalla torre o bastione semicircolare e difeso naturalmente dall'altro lato dal precipizio.

La torre collocata all'estremo meridionale, è massiccia, con una pianta a "ferro di cavallo", cioè rettilinea verso l'interno e circolare verso l'esterno delle mura. Parzialmente intatta nei primi piani all'esterno, dove si apre con un finestrone al piano superiore e una cannoniera al piano dei sotterranei.

Questa tipologia, adatta a sostenere l'assalto delle prime bocche da fuoco era affine a quella delle quattro torri che affiancavano il vicino castello di Montoggio, nella ristrutturazione di quest'ultimo da parte di Sinibaldo Fieschi. In quel caso si trattava di quattro torri angolari, dal perimetro esterno a pianta curvilinea. Erano modi ripresi dalle ultime novità, in Genova quelle delle fortezze della Briglia e di Castelletto, nel Quattrocento. All'interno questa torre conserva ancora un tratto di scala e resti degli incavi dei camini ai piani primo e secondo.

Il castello è strutturato su due livelli in alzato, in base al terrapieno del bastione e agli ambienti sotterranei o seminterrati ad esso collegati, sfruttando il ripiano del roccione su cui si erge. In pianta al centro della cinta muraria sta il cortile, che corrispondeva alla piazza scoperta in cui si radunavano i militi. Ad esso si accede da una angusta scala che viene dai sotterranei.

Nella parte settentrionale del castello sono i resti dell'abitazione padronale, con finestroni ampi ad altezza elevata.

I sotterranei sono scavati nella puddinga e si articolano in un ampio stanzone che era riservato ai soldati, chiuso da due lati dal muraglione perimetrale, e in una cisterna per l'acqua.

Ultimi proprietari furono i marchesi Crosa di Vergagni, eredi dei Fieschi dal matrimonio di Nicolò e Carlotta Fieschi, oggi il castello è di propirietà comunale.

Sul lato sud è il torrione, strutturato su due livelli; a nord i resti dell'abitazione signorile, munita a grande altezza di piccole finestre; al centro, ciò che rimane di una piazzola per i soldati, raggiungibile attraverso una stretta scala proveniente dai sotterranei.

Oggi il castello resta ancora in rovina; all'inizio dell'estate 2013 l'Amministrazione Comunale di Savignone ha avviato i lavori di messa in sicurezza e di riutilizzo funzionale del castello; il restauro, che interessa il vano voltato d'ingresso, la corte e la torre a ferro di cavallo, è volto non solo a salvaguardare quanto rimane del rudere, sia dal lato storico che da quello strutturale, ma anche riqualificare l'edificio rendendolo al contempo idoneo ad ospitare eventi, mostre e manifestazioni, riconsegnando alla cittadinanza il simbolo del Comune.

Castello di Savignone

The Mackenzie Castle (Italian: Castello Mackenzie) is a historical manor in the Castelletto quarter of Genoa, northern Italy. It is an example of Gothic Revival architecture.

History
The castle was built on a pre-existing country villa, in turn located on the site of the 16th century Genoese walls.

Built in 1893-1905, it was designed in Gothic revival style by Art Nouveau architect Gino Coppedè under commission by Evan Mackenzie, an insurance broker, whose family lived here for 26 years.

In 1956 it was declared a national monument. Thirty years later it was acquired by American collector Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. The restoration works he commissioned remained unfinished, and in 2002 the castle was sold to the Cambi auction house which commissioned the restoration to architect Gianfranco Franchini. The manor was opened to the public in 2004 and is now used as a public space for scientific or cultural exhibitions.