The Genoese fortress and the white wine
In the southernmost part of Piedmont, on the border with Liguria, in the hills of the Novese area, Gavi is a small town that for centuries belonged to the Republic of Genoa, which considered it a key point for the defence of the roads leading from the sea to the Po valley. Above the village, on a rocky spur, stands the Forte di Gavi, an imposing fortress built on a medieval castle and rebuilt by the Genoese in the seventeenth century, from 1626, on a project by the Dominican friar Vincenzo da Fiorenzuola, with bastions, ramparts and walls following the shape of the rock.
After passing to the Savoy in 1815, the fort became a prison, and during the Second World War it was used as a camp for Allied prisoners of war, especially British, New Zealand and South African officers, considered "dangerous" for their escape attempts; it was said to be impossible to escape, although some succeeded. Today it belongs to the State and is open for visits, with a spectacular view over the village and the hills. Gavi is also famous for its white wine, the Gavi DOCG, made from the Cortese grape, fresh, dry and mineral, one of the most renowned Italian whites, excellent with fish and the dishes of nearby Liguria. The village has a medieval centre with the Romanesque church of San Giacomo.
Tip: the fort is open at weekends with guided tours; taste the Gavi in the wineries of the area, which often occupy old villas and castles.
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