In ancient papers, Fontanarossa is always referred to as Fontana Rubea, meaning red fountain, although Carraro states that the word “rossa” could be derived from roggia (canal).
In the Bollettino Ligustico 1956, Issues 1-3, the village is listed, along with others nearby, as the location where minor Roman-era artefacts were found. Nonetheless, these findings suggest the presence of Roman settlements on both the Piedmont and Ligurian sides of the Antola-Carmo ridge.
Until the end of the Middle Age, there were no documents or testaments on Fontanarossa’s history, although the village cemetery still preserves the ancient Saracen church of Santo Stefano, built around the year 1000. The church is considered to be Saracen as it displays characteristics typical of that architectural style. In 935, Saracen pirates of caliph Maliero Muhamond ravaged Genoa, pushing their raids to the hinterland. It is believed that, once the pirates were pushed away, some colonies remained in Liguria and, to avoid persecution, sought refuge in villages they thought were sufficiently isolated. It is likely that one of these fugitives, then known as marrani, ended up in Fontanarossa and built what is now the Santo Stefano church.
Something more definite is known about later periods. In 1197, the village was subject to the powerful Ghibelline family of Malaspina with Muso Ferrario and Giovanni di Fontana Rossa as their vassals. In 1361 the village and other lands were yielded to the Lord of Milan Galeazzo II Visconti, and then was passed on to the Fieschi family.
In 1515, Fontanarossa was under the Pallavicini Lordship and the House of Doria in Genoa that ruled it for centuries. The House built an imposing “castle” that is still standing to this day, but without its impressive tower. For a long time, it served as the court of justice, complete with prison, trap, gallows, and breaking wheels.
From the historical records filed at the Genoa State Archive, it can be assumed that Fontanarossa, more precisely the district of Ferriere was the place of birth of Susanna from Fontanarossa, Christopher Columbus’ mother, as the marble inscription found in the village centre also attested. In 1668, the village was under the Doria della Cabella; twenty years after, it was subject to the feudatory Girolamo Spinola, and in 1783 it became a fief of the Doria family.
In a Napoleonic document from the late 18th century, Fontanarossa is mentioned alongside Orezzoli and Pregola as a boundary of territorial and civil jurisdiction. In recent history, the village has shared the same fate as other Italian regions, specifically Liguria and Emilia. It was governed by the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of Italy, the Province of Pavia, the Bobbio District, the Mandamento of Ottone, the Municipality of Gorreto, which in 1924 became part of the Province of Genoa, and finally the Italian Republic.
During the independence wars, the people of Fontanarossa played an important role in Italy’s struggle. One of them, Carlo Biggi, fought in Garibaldi’s Expedition of the Thousand. Seven residents lost their lives in World War I, and one, Giacomo Mangini, lost his life in World War II. During the latter conflict, partisans and German soldiers passed through Fontanarossa, turning the village into a site of several roundups. It was here that persecuted Jews and fleeing British prisoners were hidden. The people of Fontanarossa took great risks, but their courage and generosity shone through. Over the past century, many residents emigrated, some to North America and others to nearby cities like Genoa and Milan. Wherever they went, they earned a reputation for their hard work, determination, and skill. In recent decades, the town has thrived mainly due to tourism, which boosts the population by several hundred in summer.