The 17th-century city walls of Genoa — built between 1626 and 1632 to enclose the entire city against attack — run for 22 kilometres along the ridge above the city. Forte Sperone, the main fort on the crest, was the key defensive position and still dominates the skyline when seen from the valleys inland.
The walk along the walls from Piazza Manin to Forte Sperone takes about 45 minutes and gives extraordinary views over Genoa on one side and the Ligurian hinterland on the other. The forts and bastions along the way are in varying states of preservation; some have been converted into restaurants and cultural spaces. The route is well marked and manageable in ordinary shoes.