The Forte San Giacomo is the most substantial of Vado Ligure's Genoese fortifications, built in the 17th century to defend the coastal approaches against French and Spanish attack. Its 17th-century batteries are the most visible part of the surviving complex. The fort sits on the headland south of the town, where the coast juts into the Ligurian Sea.
The Genoese built extensively along this coast during their period of dominance, and the fortifications at Vado formed part of a defensive network stretching from the Riviera di Ponente toward Genoa. The fort is not a major tourist attraction, but it's an atmospheric place to walk around, with views of the coast and the industrial port.