Fortezza Pia, 16th-century fortress in Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Fortezza Pia is a fortress built in the 16th century on Annunziata Hill overlooking Ascoli Piceno. It features angled bastions and thick reinforced walls that form a classic Renaissance fortification structure.
Pope Pius IV commissioned the fortress in 1560 to strengthen defenses around the city. The angled bastions incorporated cutting-edge military thinking of that era.
The fortress exemplifies Renaissance military building techniques that visitors can observe while walking its grounds. The angular bastions and thick walls reflect how engineers of that period thought about defense.
The main access is through Viale della Fortezza Pia, where parking is available near the entrance. Wear comfortable shoes as you explore the grounds, since the paths on the hillside are uneven.
Hidden passages run beneath the fortress, linking it to other defensive structures in town through an underground network. This tunnel system within double walls allowed defenders to move secretly between positions without being seen.
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