* Forte Sperone, Genoa Italy * The Ledge Lighthouse, New London Connecticut * Amargosa Hotel, Death Valley Junction California * New England State Hospital * Forte Sperone Genoa Italy, The Fort played a key role in the Genoese fortified defence system of the XIX century. It lies at the top of the "New Walls" of 1630, that, still today, look like towering bulwarks on the hills behind the town centre. Its architecture is very mixed, as giving evidence of a prolonged time of construction, which covered more than one hundred years; many engineers were committed to its building, at the beginning Genoese and French military engineers and then, after 1815, the savoy Engineer Corps. The main entrance, bearing the savoy coat of arms. has a ditch and a heavy door, once connected to the drawbridge by two chains; other interesting architectural features are its powder-magazine -still very well kept- n the southern wing of the Fort, the central barracks with wide rooms and the nice chapel annexed to the complex. The Fort adjoins the northern "sperone" (buttress) of the Walls of the XVII century, from here you can enjoy a gorgeous panorama on the valleys Polcevera and Bisagno; and from the South a dramatic view on the Gulf of Genoa. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ledge Lighthouse, New London New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the Southwest Ledge. It was originally called the Southwest Ledge light, but it was felt this could be confused with another lighthouse in New Haven, the Southwest Ledge Light, so in 1910 the lighthouse was renamed to New London Ledge Light. The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service and the light was automated in 1987. In 1990 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places. New London Ledge is locally famous for the ghost of an early keeper, nicknamed "Ernie," who allegedly haunts the lighthouse. The Coast Guard crew on duty at the lighthouse, not automated until 1987, reported unexplained knockings taking place at night, as well as doors opening and closing repeatedly, the television turning on and off by itself sporadically, and the unexplained removal of sheets from beds. In the late 1990s, a television reporter from Japan spent a night inside the lighthouse to investigate the story of Ernie, and loud whispering noises—audible on-camera—were heard throughout the night, as you can see in this episode of ABC Family's Scariest Places On Earth. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amargosa Hotel Death Valley Junction,California In the middle of Death Valley -- one of the harshest and most extreme environments on earth -- stands one of the most unusual hotels in America. It is the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel, and it is listed as one of the top 10 haunted hotels in the country. The Amargosa, whose name stems from the spanish word for "bitter" (amargo), is located in a town called Death Valley Junction -- Population: less than 20, Restaurants: 0, Gas stations: 0. --------------------------------------------------------------------

• published: 18 Sep 2013
• views: 15