The history of the Castles begins in 1089, when the island of Sestri Levante entered to be part of the domain of the Genoa Republic.
During those times Sestri Levante was often victim of raids and deportations by pirates and Saracens. To rescue the inhabitants from these incursions the Genovese consuls built the Castle in 1145. From that time the island was transformed in a little fortress reachable through four gates at the town walls. There the inhabitants were taking shelter in case of danger or at night at the end of the daily trade activities. Inside the town walls between 1151 and 1190 was built the church of San Nicolò. To make the town become safer were built other two castles: the first in 1310 and the second called “Castle of the Eagle” in 1440. The history brings us to the Second World War, when the invading troops chose the peninsula as shelter and rampart and for this reason it was hardly bombed.