We are in Largo Doria, the ancient entrance to the city for those arriving by sea. Porta Marina stood here, connecting to the medieval port. Next to it stood the castrum , a fortification with two towers that defended traffic and access from the sea.
Over time, the castrum underwent a transformation: in the 16th century, it was transformed into a noble palace by the Cazulini counts, complete with elegant suspended galleries. Later, it became a convent, and in the 19th century, even a theater, the heart of the city's social life. Unfortunately, in the 1930s, it was demolished to make way for new construction.
The area now corresponds to Piazza del Popolo, which was already a lively hub of trade in the Middle Ages. Here, on the large stone slab called the clapa piscium , freshly caught fish was displayed, sold outside the walls for hygiene reasons.
Not far from here, in 1585, the Genoese built a new fort, typical of the military strategy of the time: a quadrangular structure with turrets at the corners. Today, it houses a multimedia station dedicated to the history and nature of Gallinaria Island.
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