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Important military settlement first under the Roman dominion,later under the Bizantini. Portovenere was,in the first century A.C.,the centre of monastic settlements,which later extended in the Palmaria Tino e Tinetto islands. Since 1000 A.C. we have documented news about the village of Portovenere in this period it belonged to the DA VEZZANO Signoria,then later in 1113 A.C. was transferred to the republic of Genoa, you can find an evidence of that reading the script above the main door of the village "COLONIA JANUENSIS 1113" |
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During the Roman age we can find an evidence of the existence of this ancient village: for instance "Portus Veneris " is mentioned by Strabone who was a geographer, in the latin translation of the general geography written by Claudio Tolomeo; even the name Portovenere came from the built of the temple dedicated to the Ericina Venere which is situated on the peak of rock close to San Pietro church. Under the dominion of Genoa the village had the present layout. People say that the ancient pre-genovese garrison stretches from the area of San Pietro church to the isthmus which joins the dry land. Portovenere became, thanks Genoa, a strategic fortress against sea attacks. For this reason in Portovenere were built tower-houses and arranged in a row along sea in order to resist from the attacks; more over it was built also a high surrounding wall which extends from the main door of the village, continues along the tower-houses ,up to the Portovenere castle.On this high fortified wall you can see two big laced square towers, well preserved and visible. The Portovenere towers and fortifications were more time attacked from the enemy of the republic. In 1242, the village was attacked both from the land and the sea, the resistence, against the pisa attacks, was leaded by Oberto Pallavicini and it lasted 20 days and ended with the victory of Portovenere. The village succeeded in the military resistance, but it could not do nothing against a terrible fire which took place because of accidental causes; in 1340 this big fire destroyed most part of the village, damaging even San Pietro and San Lorenzo church, only the fortifications were not damaged. The republic of Genoa built again in a modern way Portovenere's fortifications and in 1458 Genoa began to demolish the ancient castle and built a new one which is the the present one,with its typical shape you can admire. The present structure of the castle is well preserved and surpass with its gray colour the sea and the village. At the bottom the huge fortified wall is reinforced by three " bastioni ",on the other hand, up at the end of the wall you can see a semicircular tower. On the fortified wall you can see holes for the chain of a drawbridge, nowadays unfortunately it doesn't exist any more. It is very evocative going for a walk along the fortified wall, from there you can admire both the beautiful natural landscape mixed with the taste of the history of these places.
The white Madonna is the patron saint of portovenere. Every year people in Portovenere celebrate on the 17th of August.The parchment of the fourteenth century, which represents the Madonna with child between Saint Antonio Abate and Saint Cristoforo, in accordance with the tradition, came to Portovenere in 1204 together with other sacred relics on a big cedar of Libano trunk. Council
house for tourism Tourist
Information centre Tel. 0187 790691 Fax. 0187 790215
Portovenere Civil Library Tel. 0187 794890
Fezzano primary school Tel. 0187 791589 Maternal school of Portovenere Tel. 0187 791153 Maternal school of Le Grazie Tel. 0187 790277 Secondary school of Le Grazie Tel. 0187 790338 Traduzione concessa da Mario Campo |
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