Castello di Nisida, Renaissance castle on Nisida island, Naples, Italy.
Castello di Nisida is a fortress located on elevated ground on Nisida island, connected to the mainland by a stone bridge. The structure displays Renaissance architectural features combined with defensive fortification elements typical of its period.
Built in 1279 during Angevin rule, the fortress later became part of a defensive network stretching from Baia to Sperone under Pedro de Toledo. This expansion significantly strengthened Naples's coastal protection.
The fortress reflects how medieval Naples used its islands for defense, combining Renaissance style with military strategy of that era. Walking around it, you can sense the importance this location held for protecting the city.
The fortress currently serves as a youth detention facility under the Italian Ministry of Justice and is not open to the public. Visitors cannot access the building or its grounds due to its institutional status.
During a severe fever epidemic in 1626, the fortress was transformed into a hospital, showing how the structure adapted to serve different purposes. This transformation reveals the flexibility of historical buildings when facing emergencies.
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