Parco Urbano delle Mura e Forti: the green crown embracing Genoa

Genoa is the only city in the world where you can hike on military fortifications while enjoying a breathtaking view that stretches from the crystalline sea to the Apennine mountains. The Parco delle Mura e Forti (Walls and Forts Park) is an eighteen-kilometer long green belt that completely encircles the Ligurian capital like a protective embrace made of woods, trails, and historic bastions that tell five centuries of battles and conquests.

Climbing the forts means conquering Genoa from above. Forte Diamante (Diamond Fort), perched at $667\text{ meters}$ in height, offers the most complete panorama: on one side, the deep blue sea fading into the horizon, and on the other, the internal valleys opening towards Piedmont. On clear days, you can even see Corsica and the Maritime Alps, while below your feet, all of Genoa stretches out like a colorful map between the port, palaces, and caruggi (alleys) of the historic center.

The trails are a perfect mix of wild nature and military history. You walk through chestnut woods and Mediterranean scrub that smell of rosemary and myrtle, then suddenly a bastion appears with its cannons still pointed towards the sea, as if they were still awaiting the enemies of three centuries ago. The walls are made of local stone and blend perfectly into the landscape, so much so that sometimes you can't tell where the natural rock ends and where man's work begins.

For cyclists, it's a giant playground. The mountain bike routes climb tough ascents that challenge even the fittest, but the reward is adrenaline-pumping descents through the woods and panoramic stops that make you forget the effort. Every bend reveals different views: sometimes the industrial port with its gigantic cranes, sometimes the colorful palaces of Boccadasse mirrored in the sea.

Early morning is the magical time: when the fog rises from the sea and envelops the city below, walking on the forts is like flying above the clouds. Seagulls fly at your altitude, while the rising sun paints everything pink and gold. The silence up there is incredible, broken only by the rustling of the wind through the trees and the distant call of ship sirens.

You don't need to be a mountaineer: there are routes for everyone, from easy family walks to challenging treks for the more athletic. Signposting is excellent, and there are strategic refreshment points in the main forts.

The park is easily reachable from the center of Genoa with funiculars, buses, or simply on foot following the signs for the forts. Access is free, and the trails are open all year round. Bring trekking shoes, plenty of water, and a camera: here, every meter offers natural postcards that help you understand why Genoa is called "the Superb."

Photo credits:     Garonzi Stefania - licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.