The Fort Madonna degli Angeli is a nineteenth-century fortress located on a hill 232 m above sea level just behind the center of Savona.
The fortress, classified as a battery, formed a defense system of the coast and the bay of Savona - Vado Ligure, which also included the twin fortress (albeit a little smaller) Madonna del Monte (in Legino) and the innermost Forte Ciuto. It was built by the Savoy family around 1881 and remained in operation until the end of the Second World War.
The current reinforced concrete roof is probably not original and a later intervention to adapt the attachment to the increasing firepower of modern artillery. The fort has two floors, the first is dedicated to stables and ammunition depots and the second to the three positions for 6 280 mm howitzers, which were later replaced by 149/23 cannons after the First World War, and telemetry stations. There are also two other parking spaces that were built in front of the fort after the First World War and are connected by a drawbridge over the moat (which has disappeared), which has now almost disappeared. On the upper floor there is also a terrace with mortar stations. During the National Socialist occupation, in addition to the Wehrmacht crew, it was also a German anti-aircraft battery that was armed with 4 anti-aircraft 88 guns and two anti-aircraft quad systems.
A few meters outside the fort, north-west, are the ruins of the barracks where the soldiers stopped. Halfway up towards the city is the Church of the Madonna degli Angeli, after which the fort is named.
There is a memorial plaque in the courtyard commemorating the partisans killed here by the Nazis. The signs of the bullets responsible for the massacre can be clearly seen on the wall.
Source: Wikipedia