Mura Nuove and Forte Sperone

The Mura Nuove, or New Walls, are the great fortified ring that the Republic of Genoa built on the hills above the city between 1626 and 1639, and Forte Sperone is one of their principal bastions. They were raised during the Thirty Years' War era, when Genoa feared an attack from the Duchy of Savoy and from France, and the Republic decided to enclose not only the dense lower city but also the high ridges from which an enemy could shell it. The walls run for about 19 kilometres along the ridge line, among the longest city fortifications in Europe, linking a series of forts and gates across the hills of the Polcevera and Bisagno valleys. The work was carried out by military engineers of the Republic, who adapted the bastioned trace to the steep, irregular terrain. Forte Sperone, at the northern apex of the walls above Genoa, is a large triangular fortress whose name refers to the spur on which it stands. It was rebuilt and altered in later centuries, notably by the Savoy after 1815, and it was used by the Italian army until the 20th century. The fort has suffered neglect and weathering, and restoration has been partial: the exterior walls, ramparts and gates are largely intact and accessible on foot, while interiors open only for guided events. For visitors the experience is of a long outdoor walking route rather than a museum, with the fortifications themselves as the exhibit and views over Genoa, the port and the Ligurian sea as the reward. The trails vary from short stretches to full-day hikes, linking to the Righi funicular and other forts such as Begato and Diamante. The Mura Nuove show how a mercantile republic invested in defence at the height of its financial power, and they give a clear picture of how Genoa's topography shaped its military planning.