Castello di Bolzaneto: A Medieval Fortress in Genoa, Italy

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 5

Popularity: Very Low

Google Maps: View on Google Maps

Country: Italy

Civilization: Unclassified

Remains: Military

History

The Castello di Bolzaneto stands in the municipality of Genoa, Italy. This fortress was originally constructed by the Adorno family, a powerful local dynasty, to protect their economic interests in the Polcevera valley during the early 14th century. As part of a network of fortifications, it secured critical routes and controlled the surrounding territory from its commanding position on Montebello hill.

The first castle faced destruction between 1336 and 1337 amid the intense conflicts between two rival factions, the Guelfs and the Ghibellines, locally known as the Rampini and Mascherati. After this period of strife, the Republic of Genoa took initiative to rebuild the fortification in 1380, under the leadership of Doge Nicolò Guarco. The renewed fortress played a strategic role in defending Genoa against threats advancing from the north through the Polcevera valley. By 1382, the castle was commanded by Bertone Brusca, who oversaw a garrison comprising roughly twenty crossbowmen.

In the early 15th century, the castle briefly served an administrative function as the seat of the Podesteria, or local government district, of Polcevera. Later, the turmoil of the 1435 war between Genoa and the Duchy of Milan saw the castle fall to the Visconti forces; however, popular resistance enabled Genoese control to be restored within the same year.

For the following centuries, the castle did not witness major military engagements but was still occupied twice by foreign troops. Austrian forces held the castle during conflicts in 1746-1747 and again in 1800, though no combat is recorded during these occupations. After a lengthy period of abandonment, the property changed hands in the early 20th century when the Pastorino family acquired it, converting the old fortress into a neo-Gothic country residence accompanied by an English-style garden. Subsequently, the castle was adapted into a hospital dedicated to Carolina Pastorino, operating until the 1980s. Since 2002, the site has served as a healthcare residence and hospice managed by the Gigi Ghirotti Association, supporting patients with terminal illnesses.

Remains

The Castello di Bolzaneto is positioned on a rocky outcrop at the base of Brasile hill, strategically overseeing the left bank of the Polcevera River near where it meets the Secca stream. This important location, once surrounded by marshlands known as the Bratte, allowed control over a key passage between the lower and upper Polcevera valley, particularly a ford crossing the Secca.

The castle’s layout, primarily established during its 1380 reconstruction, consists of a square plan centered around an octagonal tower topped with a pitched roof. At each corner of the square stand four smaller towers, contributing to the fortress’s defensive capabilities. Later on, a long building with a rectangular shape was added adjoining the main structure, expanding its footprint.

Throughout subsequent centuries, various modifications altered the castle, yet its core medieval form remains largely intact. The surrounding area has undergone significant change with urban expansion, including land reclamation and the construction of roads and industrial facilities, which have transformed the original strategic environment surrounding the fortress.

Today, the castle stands as a preserved example of medieval military architecture, its sturdy walls and towers still reflecting the design and functions conceived to defend Genoa’s northern approaches.