Priamar Fortress
Priamar is not just a fortress, it is a journey through time, culture and beauty. Beneath your feet are centuries of history. On the site of an old Mediaeval part of the city, the Republic of Genoa built the Priamar Fortress between 1542 and 1544. A masterpiece of military engineering designed to defend and control but also signal Genoa’s power over the city.
To make way for the imposing fort, which exploits the strategic advantages offered by the rocky headland called Priamar, one of the most important parts of the old city was destroyed including the cathedral of Santa Maria di Castello, the bishop’s palace, the Dominican convent, the ten oratories of the confraternities and three public hospitals. T
he fortress has been extended and altered several times over the centuries, even being used as a prison that between November 1830 and January 1831 held Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the pioneers of the unification of Italy. The cell is now open to visitors.
Having been abandoned for years, Priamar has been reborn and carefully restored to become an important cultural and tourist centre for Liguria. The Palazzo degli Ufficiali is now home to the civic archaeological museum and a museum dedicated to former president Sandro Pertini and sculptor Renata Cuneo; the Palazzo del Commissario is a venue for art exhibitions and other cultural and tourist events.
The Palazzo della Sibilla has been turned into a major conference centre and its old cells are now used by local artisans. Every summer, Piazzale del Maschio square is transformed into an outdoor theatre seating more than 600 people, offering a packed calendar of events.
These days, it is a thriving cultural and tourist hub, with museums, exhibitions, events and an outdoor theatre: all that is missing is you! Climb up onto the ramparts, take a deep breath of the sea air and enjoy the magnificent views. You can see the coastline of Liguria snaking away into the distance, the hills that squeeze the city on one city and the port at the foot of the fortress.
Wander around the fortress, visit the museums, and learn the incredible stories contained within these walls. Steep yourself in the history and culture of the Priamar Fortress.
