Forti di Genova, il progetto del Comune e della Città Metropolitana

You might be interested in:    • Forti, castelli e complessi monumentali      • Comuni e Borghi della Città metropolitana ...   The Genoese forts are large bastions aligned in a spectacular sequence along the 20 km of the New Walls, the monumental and colossal city walls built between 1626 and 1639 on the ring of mountains behind Genoa. The forts, built at different times but mostly in the 18th century or during the Savoy era in the 19th century, number 16 in total. The layout of the walls and the hilltop forts bear witness to three centuries of history, from the failed attack on the city by Franco-Piedmontese forces in 1625, following which the Republic of Genoa approved the construction of the New Walls, to the siege by the Austrian army in 1747, from the Napoleonic Wars to the German bombings of World War II. This heritage has enormous tourism potential, due to the historical and architectural value of the artifacts and the environmental and landscape value of the sites where they were built, but above all for the extraordinary scenic features of the military system of the New Walls, which run along the ridges overlooking the city, offering a dizzying and magnificent panorama. The Municipality of Genoa has long since launched the "Fuori Porta" project to enhance the forts. The "Fuori Porta" project is focusing its efforts on the seven so-called central forts: Begato, Belvedere, Crocetta, Tenaglia, Sperone, Puin, and Torre Granara. It began years ago with Begato, one of the largest, which could accommodate 840 soldiers. Located on the ridge between the Lagaccio Valley and the Valpolcevera, overlooking a vast esplanade, it is more suited than any other fort to function as an event venue and a place for leisure. After an initial project planned in the 1990s and implemented a few years later but left unfinished, the revitalization of Fort Begato has now received renewed impetus. The first step was the transfer of the bastion, like the other forts, from the State Property Agency to the Municipality. Then, plans for its reuse and, crucially, its garrison began. After this phase of reusing the external sections, plans will move on to repurposing the much larger central body. The Metropolitan City of Genoa has decided to participate in the "Fuori Porta" project, including a seven-page chapter dedicated to forts in its Metropolitan Strategic Plan, currently being developed and due for publication in December of this year. But why is the Metropolitan City concerned with forts? Gianluca Buccilli, councilor responsible for urban planning, explains: "Because its strategy is to develop Genoa as a metropolis, affirming the metropolitan city's role in the European context and focusing on the principles of the green and blue economy." This means, first and foremost, promoting accessibility to the forts from the city center, with connections that are as fast and easy as possible: the idea is to use a cableway starting from the Lanterna and following the route of the Mura Nuove, which began right at the port's lighthouse and then ascending the San Benigno hill, which separated Genoa from Sampierdarena. Directly connecting the forts to the Lanterna Park, created a few years ago by the Province of Genoa along with a charming promenade suspended over the harbor, would increase the forts' tourist appeal, as well as that of the Lanterna itself. One of the most interested audiences would undoubtedly be the cruise passengers who disembark en masse year-round at the ferry terminal, located a short distance from the lighthouse. However, the Metropolitan Strategic Plan, regarding mobility to the forts, envisages, in addition to the cableway, also connecting the various forts with light transport systems such as shuttle buses, electric vehicles, and bike sharing. Sports activities, on the other hand, are well suited to the forts' area, where it is already very common to encounter runners, cyclists, and, of course, hikers. But equally important is the hospitality and catering aspect, also envisioned in the Municipality's project and in the related one being developed by the Metropolitan City of Genoa. 2016 ©Production by the Communications Office of the Metropolitan City of Genoa Subtitles by Livio Marciano http://www.cittametropolitana.genova.it Subscribe to our channel to stay up-to-date: http://bit.ly/subcittametropolitanadi... Follow us on: Our website: http://www.notizie.cittametropolitana... Twitter:   / metronews_ge   Facebook:   / cittametropolitanadigenova   Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+cittamet... YouTube: http://bit.ly/cittametropolitanagenova