It is not up to the present possible to establish with exactitude the year of foundation of Lerici but,
the study of its ancient name Portus Illycis that it could derive from Iliakos Greek
(than he means Iliaco, Troiano) he has fed the supporters of the theory that its foundation is from attributing
to a group of esuli of War of Troy; such theory it is supported also from landscaped beauties of country analogous
to the coasts Greeks and from the fact that one of the bays of Lerici he is dedicated to the goddess Venere.
The village was landing place port of the Greek and fenici traffics even if its tightened tie more it without a
doubt had it with the Etruscan people above all thanks to its vicinity with Luni.
For its important one importance like port, Lerici was contesa from the Roman to from Liguria ones and
they conquered and used to scope they trades and military. The port was to the center of many interests
also in the medieval period; under the dominion of the Bishop of Luni they landed viandanti, pilgrims and
merchants here whose scope was that one to catch up the Italy north and the Europe center, through the
important node of Sarzana.
A distribution of the Way Francigena door to the Gulf of the Poets since from Lerici
left the pilgrims for S.Jacopo di Compostela and Rome. From the country, in fact,
dipartono two ways very roman: one corresponds to puts into effect it them Via that
it joins Lerici to Sarzana, the other colleague the citizen to Tellaro through an evocative
rich distance of ulivi and Mediterranean spot.
Lerici moreover it was used from the lucchesi for the traffic
of the skins and of the stoffe and, subsequently, it was over
a long time span contesa between Genoa and Pisa to the time of
Republic Marinare. As a result of the battle of the Giglio,
in 1241, was occupied from the pisani that constructed the
castle and the encircled new village of wall. The castle then
was widened fifteen years after in consequence of it reconquers
from part of the genovesi.
One of the events more important of the history of Lerici that, quite
it changed the fates of Europe, was taken place in the 1528 year in which
Andrea Doria it was sheltered between walls them of its palace and decided
to pass from France to Spain, removing to France dominion on the Mediterranean,
in favour of Spain.
Between `the 600 and `the 700 village knew the period of greater favorite urbanistico
development from the presence of a shipowning nobility that had its dwellings to Lerici
and of which the antichi palaces and the villas remain. monumental castle of Lerici from
above dominates the lived one of the full of rocks cape and is considered one of beautifulst
than all the Liguria. It was erected from the Pisani in the first half of `the 200 and,
passed under the dominion of the Genovesi, in 1256, it was sopraelevata some the imposing
tower pentagonal that was also crowned from four orders of hanging bows; it was moreover
fortified in `the 600 with the construction of sturdy bastions.
Currently the Castle it introduces in good conditions, practically intact are wall to
them external and very conserved
it is also the small duecentesca Nail head in gotico-from Liguria style dedicated to
S.Anastasia that rises inside.
