The recent history
Since the territory of the Cinque Terre became a possession of Genoa, it
has followed the historical trajectory of the Republic and, by
extension, the entire Ligurian region.
From the 15th century onward, the Cinque Terre, like other coastal areas
along the Tyrrhenian Sea, faced a persistent threat from Turkish pirate
raids that terrorized coastal populations for three centuries. This
peril is evidenced by the numerous watchtowers constructed for
surveillance and defense.
Warning signals were transmitted optically from specific vantage points
along the coast, ranging from the summit of the Mesco promontory in
Monterosso to the Montenero point in Riomaggiore. At night, fire served
as the medium for these alerts. A fire that burned continuously at
regular intervals indicated the absence of danger; however, if the fire
was quickly extinguished or obscured, or if multiple fires appeared
simultaneously, it signaled an imminent threat from the infidels, who
were believed to be approaching with as many boats as there were fires.
During daylight hours, smoke was used to convey these signals.
In July 1545, the pirate Dragut attacked and enslaved individuals from
Monterosso and Corniglia, but he was repelled at Manarola, thanks to the
assistance of the residents of Riomaggiore. The last Islamic assault,
which involved the capture of fishermen, occurred during the night of
June 24-25, 1815, off the coast near Punta Mesco.
