Spanish Fort or 16th-Century Castle – the symbol of the revolt

History and description

Built between 1534 and 1567 by order of Don Pedro of Toledo, Spanish viceroy, it served as a means of controlling the city and its citizens, who also had to bear the construction costs by paying an annual tax. It later became the residence of the Spanish governor, a military barracks, and finally a national monument. Subjected to constant restoration work, after the 2009 earthquake the fort shows a square layout surrounded by four bastions, a particularly deep moat encircling the structure, a white stone portal bearing an inscription from the time of Charles V, and, beyond the ground-floor portico, a series of internal rooms and a chapel.

Curiosities

The fort is known as the “cathedral of the desert” since it was never used for military purposes. At the same time, it is famous for the discovery of several mummified bodies, but above all for the skeleton of a Mammuthulus meridionalis, considered one of the most complete fossils in Europe.

Access

Currently, the fort cannot be visited inside due to renovation works, but usually the entrance ticket cost was €7.

How to reach it

Located on the highest hill of the city, the fort can be reached by car via the ramp, or on foot from the center by passing through the Castle Park.

A testimony to Spanish rule in Italy and the setting of a controversial history that saw the people opposing the powerful, the Spanish Fort is one of the main stops on a tour of Abruzzo!

Cover photo credits: Mario A. Prado