Rocchetta Ligure: sights, history and trails

The lordship of Rocchetta and Roccaforte belongs at least from the 13th century to the Spinola (from Germany around 948 under the Emperor Ottone) of the branch of Luccoli and is given imperial confirmation in 1369 and again in 1478 with jurisdiction over the castles placed on the right bank of the stream Sisola and the slope of the ditch Avi that divides it from the fief of Cantalupo. With Stefano II Spinola (1579-26), owner of the imperial feuds, is introduced the primogeniture and in 1607 receives the imperial privilege of imposing gabelle on transit goods in its lands and proceeds to reconstruction of the ancient castle; 1609 promulgates a new Statute, attributing absolute powers, and establishing from 1612 a school teacher in the village. The fief comes to understand the lands in the valleys of Borbera, Sisola, Scrivia and Vobbia. He must support a long controversy against the claims of Uncle Mario on some areas of the family fief of Montessoro (1607). Shortly before he died, Stephen succeeds and becomes recognized the right of primogeniture of his possessions. With Napoleon IV (1607-83), succeeded to the father Stefano, the lordship is improved also in the living conditions of the population: he is often present in the marquisate with visits and inspections and the fief is enriched by a hospital for travellers, given the strategic position of the road that connects the port of Genoa with Piacenza, Tortona and Pavia. The 8.10.1644 the lordship is elevated to Marquisate with Rocchetta, Vigo and Centrassi, associating it to the county of Ronco and to the consignories of Busalla, Montessoro and Borgo de' Fornari. Having increased the income following the imperial concession to establish the tolls on the goods passing along the Via del Sale or Via dei Feudi imperial (with beginning from Genoa, Passo d'Orero, Casella, Croce, Val Vobbia, Mongiardino) that from the port of Genoa climbs up to Lombardy, Napoleon erects the new commercial center of Borgonuovo della Rocchetta on the opposite bank of the Sisola that with flowing in the Borberaster1673, where the Order of Malta Statutes are published, a new feudal palace at Rocchetta (1666-1678), a preemptive palace seat of the excretors of the goods and to accommodate important characters of passage (such as the imperial plenipotentiary minister arrived in 1722 to process the people in competition in the desertion of some soldiers from the imperial army) and finally a tick (1669-1721). The brother of the Marquis, religious, erects the great church of Sant’Antonio Abate. Stefano III (1633-1687), Carlo Napoleone (1671-1736) erecting a modern hospital in Borgo de’ Fornari, Giovan Battista (1707-1772). Stefano III, tries to definitively conclude the centuries-old disputes between Roccaforte and Cantalupo and the rights of the consignoria of Montessoro, while successor Charles Napoleon is forced to face the dissidation with Emperor Charles VI who intends to deprive the feudal lords of the over yoke of the collection of rights on the “regalia del sale”. Carlo Napoleone is designated heir by his sister Geronima, widow of Urbano Fieschi (1736). Meanwhile the old palace of the Rocca is abandoned and ceded to Domenico Balbi, while it expands with various acquisitions of property and land the possessions of Borgo de Fornari. The son Giovan Battista happens to him until the death of 27.09.1772, leaving his son Charles Napoleon as a universal heir. Gio. He beats without neglecting his fiefs, carries out his activity at the service of Genoa, as sent to the court of Naples and then captain of Sestri Ponente. Charles Napoleon II (1741-1805) is heir of the mother Anna Maria Adorno and as a result of the heritage of grandfather Giovan Battista Adorno died in 1689 (Adorna heritage). In the 1753 the lucky Charles receives in 1753 also the substantial legacy of Gentiles with the co-committed faith of Paolo Gentile, finally a few years later Charles obtains the renunciation of his father's inheritance by his sister Giovanna. However, because of the disastrous financial situation to which he bears his ingent patrimony, Charles, by decree of the Genoese Senate of 30.08.1780, is declared “disable” and interrupted for the administration of its assets by insolvency; it will be rehabilitated only in September 1797. For this financial dissent, the marquis, devoid of heirs, in 1784 leaves the administration of his goods to the “curators” Anton Giulio Raggi, Raffaele De Ferrari, Francesco Maria Spinola who administer the marquisate until the 1797. For some quotas also the Doria and 1714 The Gentiles are the co-owners of Busalla, Montessoro and Borgo dei Fornari. In the 1805 Carlo's sister, Giovanna, is still the only heir to the family heritage of property in Fegino, Cornigliano, Ronco, Rocchetta and Roccaforte, Borgo de Fornari. Married with Giuseppe Pinelli, devoid of heirs, leaves the property to cousins Giovan Antonio (1760-55) and Giacomo Filippo Raggi (1777-54).

Below is a table relating to the administrations that have succeeded one another in this municipality.

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  Another image of Rocchetta Ligure
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  View of Rocchetta Ligure (390 m) from the Alpine Cross (830 m)
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  Piazza Regina Margherita a Rocchetta Ligure