Opere difensive trecentesche nella Repubblica di Genova

Defensive walls of the 14th century in the Republic of Genoa. Recent investigations on the remains of the fortified system of Monterosso, in the Cinque Terre, have made it possible to date one of the half tower of the defensive enclosure to the fourteenth century. A second tower, that was originally a half tower with a U-shape, could be traced back to the same time, given its constructive similarities. In this period new defensive walls were erected in other settlements of the ancient Republic of Genova. The walls of Levanto, built in the second half of the thirteenth century, perhaps were reinforced or partially constructed at the beginning of the following century. In La Spezia, the Castle of San Giorgio and the walls surrounding the village were built on the occasion of the establishment of the Podestaria (1371). In Genoa itself, the two suburbs outside the walls known as walls of Barbarossa (1158) were surrounded by walls in the fourteenth century. Nothing of them is preserved, but we have interesting information thanks to the archival documents, that illustrate the construction features of the western part, equipped with towers, battlements and crossbows. The contribution addresses for the first time this poorly studied chapter in the history of Genoese fortifications, trying to compare the stonemasonry techniques and the building typologies that distinguish them.