Rapallo Castle

On July 4, 1549, the fierce Turkish pirate Dragut attacked the Ligurian coast. While the Saracens crushed Rapallo, news of the battle reached Santa Margarita Ligure, and the inhabitants managed to arm themselves, avoiding the fate of the neighbors. In order not to repeat the terrible story, the ruler Rapallo appealed to the Doge of Genoa with a request to build a castle to protect the coast, saying that the construction should be paid by the residents of Santa Margarita Ligure, because they did not suffer losses. In addition, the petition claimed that a certain Maranola of Santa Margarita helped the pirate! Upon learning of this, the residents of Santa Margarita were angry and ready to take up arms and destroy what survived Dragut’s attack. The conflict was averted only thanks to the intervention of the Doge, who ordered both warring parties to build the castle with their own funds. These two castles of gray stone have survived to our time: one in Rapallo, the other in the bay near the neighboring city.