Castello Aragonese, Renaissance castle in Taranto, Italy
Castello Aragonese is a fortress located at the southeastern edge of Taranto's historic center on an island, featuring seven defensive towers arranged around a quadrangular layout. The structure forms part of the fortified perimeter that once guarded the entrance to the bay.
Ferdinand II of Aragon commissioned this fortress in 1486, tasking architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini with transforming an earlier Byzantine structure into a modern defense system. The redesign reflected the military strategies of the Renaissance period to protect southern Italy's coast.
The Chapel of San Leonardo sits within the fortress walls and holds decorative elements from past centuries that reveal how spiritual life was woven into military spaces. Visitors can sense how those who lived here balanced their daily duties with moments of prayer and reflection.
The Italian Navy maintains the fortress and offers guided tours through the fortified walls, towers, and interior corridors to help visitors understand the layout. Comfortable footwear is advisable since the paths wind through multiple levels with stairs and uneven surfaces.
In 1883 the San Angelo tower was partially demolished to make room for the Ponte Girevole, a rotating bridge that connects the island to the mainland. This adaptation reveals how the fortress had to adjust to modern infrastructure while maintaining its historical significance.
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