Forte di Santa Tecla
18th-century Genoese fortress on the old port of Sanremo, a prison until 1997, visitable with panoramic walkways and used for exhibitions and events.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Forte di Santa Tecla was built by the Republic of Genoa after the popular uprising of 1753 to control Sanremo. The design by the engineer de Sicre envisaged a triangular plan, sloping walls and bastions at the corners, with the artillery aimed more at the town than at the sea. To build it, several houses and the chapel of San Mauro were demolished; the fort was completed in just 11 months and inaugurated on 12 March 1756.
At the end of the 18th century it was occupied by Napoleonic troops; after the annexation of Liguria to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815, it became an infantry barracks and then a Carabinieri barracks. From 1864 to 1997 it was used as a prison, with two interruptions: between 1915 and 1918 it housed a seaplane base, and from 1943 to 1945 an ammunition depot during the German occupation.
In 2013 the Soprintendenza (heritage authority) began the first consolidation and restoration works. The fort, which is state-owned, was handed over to the Polo museale della Liguria on 31 March 2016 and is now run by the Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Liguria. Since summer 2016 it has been open to the city again, with exhibitions and cultural initiatives.
The building spreads over three floors. Visitors can see the courtyard covered by a structure of wood and glass, the former prisoners' cells, the cistern, the soldiers' quarters, the storerooms used for exhibitions, and the walkway on the bastions, from which there is a 360-degree view of the town and the sea.
Highlights
- Triangular plan with bastions, an example of 18th-century military architecture
- Courtyard covered by a wood and glass structure
- Former prison cells on the first floor
- Walkway on the bastions with a 360-degree view
- Storerooms used for exhibitions and cultural events
- Cistern visible from the ground floor and the first floor
- Founded
- 1756
- Operated by
- Ministero della Cultura – Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Liguria
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2Young people aged 18 to 25 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Combined ticket with the Museo preistorico dei Balzi Rossi and the Area archeologica di Nervia | €8 |
Prices may differ for special exhibitions and events. Tickets are bought at the Fort (ticket office just to the right of the entrance) or online on museiitaliani.it.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Car park near the former railway station, next to the seafront cycle path, or in the Palafiori multi-storey car park.
The Fort is in the centre of Sanremo, in front of the old port, and can be reached on foot from the town centre.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The Fort hosts temporary exhibitions, events and guided tours led by Ministry staff on special occasions. |
