The Bastione is Ceriale's most distinctive landmark: a squat, circular stone tower that rises above the promenade, its thick walls built to withstand cannon fire as much as warn of approaching raiders. It is one of a network of such towers that once stretched along the entire Ligurian coast, many of which have since been demolished or incorporated into buildings.
This one survives in good condition and dominates the seafront. The exterior is freely accessible; the interior is not normally open to the public. Even from outside, standing next to the ancient stone with the Ligurian Sea in front of you and the steep green hills behind, it is easy to imagine the centuries of Mediterranean history that played out on this stretch of coast.