User Reviews
Pietra di Vobbia Castle is a rare example of contamination between the work of men and nature, the Castle of Pietra overlooks the Scrivia Valley. An unconquerable fortress, it is built between two rock towers. Recently restored, you can visit it today in all its ancient charm.
Embedded between two rock towers and perfectly integrated with nature, the castle of Pietra di Vobbia has retained the typical atmosphere of the impregnable medieval fortresses, a symbol of the feudal power of its rulers.The castle was built around the year 1000 to preside over the road connecting Vobbia to Canton Island, Via del Sale (Salt Road) to Postumia road.
Its name originates from Opizzone della Pietra, a family in charge of the feud. You can see only a part of it from the valley, and this already tells a lot about how difficult it was to seize it. Like in 1200, when the Republic of Genoa itself had to step in to rescue two men held captive by the Opizzone family. From here, in fact you can control the roads of four provinces (Genoa, Alessandria, Pavia and Piacenza) and, thanks to a clever reference system, a message could quickly be sent from the port of Genoa to Tortona.Its peculiar location made its restoration a complicated affair too; started in 1970, restoration work has now been completed and everyone can visit it.
References:Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.