Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

THE HIST OR Y OF THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A  45

by the arrival of Spanish troops. raids) in the Mediterranean. The 17th
Andrea Doria later put the city under century saw numerous revolts by the
the protection of Charles V, King of Corsicans, as well as renewed attempts
Spain and Holy Roman Emperor – a by the colonial power to impose its
demonstration of how power in the authority. But the decline of Genoa, along
city had shifted. Andrea Doria (see with widespread dissatisfaction among
p83) was a talented soldier and Corsicans, provoked yet more revolts
admiral, and a member of one in the early 18th century, eventually
of Genoa’s great families. resulting in the annexation of Corsica
He was named lord of the to France.
city in 1528.
In 1553, for reasons Other Ligurian
connec ted to the wars Columbus, a native of Cities Develop
between France and Spain, Genoa Albenga, which had long sought
the French decided to land on to resist the power of Genoa, finally
Genoa-dominated Corsica, intending to came under Genoese control following a
establish a base in the Mediterranean Sea. clash between the Guelphs and
Many Genoese fortres ses fell, but a peace Ghibellines. The town of San Remo was
treaty eventually forced the French acquired by the Doria family but managed
to withdraw. to liberate itself in 1361, becoming a free
This was not the end of trouble in commune within the Genoese republic.
Corsica, however. The defeat of the After years of autonomy, Savona was
Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Lepanto defeated by the Genoese in 1528 and
in 1571 led to instability (and also to pirate the conquerors’ first action was to rebuild
the port. A great new fortress, Il
Priamàr, was built, but the local
population went into decline. La
Spezia, subject to Genoa and, from
1371, seat of the Vicariate of the
Riviera di Levante, was fortified at
the end of the 14th century, and
remained under the control of the
Genoese until the early 19th century.
Smaller towns also managed
to find a role for themselves in a
region dominated by the Genoese.
Camogli, Portofino and Chiavari
all lived off the sea, and their
A 16th-century view of the Battle of Lepanto shipyards prospered.

1451 1543 Construction of
1522 Birth of the
1407 Founding Christopher Republic of Genoa La Lanterna, which
of the Banco di Columbus is born becomes the symbol of
San Giorgio in Genoa the city of Genoa
1400 1450 1500
1492 1528 Andrea
1458 Brief period of Colombus Doria comes
French rule over discovers to power
Genoa begins America
Caravel

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