Historical notes

The Castelluccio stronghold dates back to the year 1000 AD. The original fortress was destroyed; given its panoramic and commanding position on a cliff above the sea, it became necessary for the Marquises Lomellini to rebuild it in the seventeenth century. An inscription is still preserved in the Church of San Martino in Genova Pegli, on the inner southern perimeter wall of the bell tower, and a recent copy of it was placed in the atrium of the Town Hall.

The ruins of the Castelluccio are the subject of a story: in 1800 the French were besieged by the Austrians and the English; the position was a good one, given its command over the sea, and it could withstand the assaults of the Austrian troops, but the cannons of the English ships threatened to reduce it to dust.

The Castelluccio had only two cannons! A decision had to be taken, so the French Commander tried every way to avoid a shameful capitulation and in the end decided to abandon the Castelluccio.

When night fell he had his men armed and ready to leave, but first he ordered a lit lantern to be tied round the neck of a donkey that happened to be there. The animal, set free, wandered about the little fort, which deceived the enemy lines: suspecting nothing, they did not notice that the garrison had slipped out and made its way to Genoa. The next day the Austrians launched their assault but were astonished to meet no resistance at all. So far the tale might pass, but something else was added to it: the non existent feat of arms was turned by the Vienna bulletins into a victory.

During the Second World War the same structure was used as a German post, precisely because of its position, and a bunker was built beneath it that is still there today. You all know the story from here on.