Bastione Fortezza, Star fort bastion in Grosseto, Italy
Bastione Fortezza is a star-shaped fortress in Grosseto with a pentagonal design and two inner bastions pointing toward the city center. The restored site now houses exhibition spaces accessed through a main gate with a historic drawbridge.
Constructed between 1572 and 1593 by leading architects including Marino Lanci, Simone Genga, and Alessandro Pieroni, it was part of a major defensive reconstruction of Grosseto's walls. The fortress represented the latest military design innovations of its era.
The Chapel of Santa Barbara and soldiers' quarters show how troops lived and worshiped within the walls. These spaces reveal the daily rhythms of military life in a 16th-century garrison.
The site is well-preserved and easily accessed through the main gate with its historic drawbridge. Plan time to explore the various interior spaces and the current exhibitions on display.
The fortress was designed to function independently if the city fell, with water cisterns and grain storage areas built into its structure. This self-sufficiency shows how seriously defenders planned for prolonged siege situations.
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