Cittadella of Alessandria, Military fortress in Alessandria, Italy.
The Cittadella of Alessandria is a star-shaped brick fortress in the Piedmontese city of Alessandria, covering a large area. The six bastions are connected by straight walls, and a wide moat surrounds the entire structure, linked to the Tanaro River.
Construction began in 1732 under King Charles Emmanuel III, after the territory passed from Spain to the House of Savoy. In 1821, rebel troops raised the Italian tricolor on the ramparts, making the site a symbol of resistance against Austrian rule.
The site carries the name of the city itself and still displays the classic building style of mid-18th-century Italian military installations. Visitors can walk along the ramparts and enter the casemates, where soldiers once lived and weapons were stored.
The main entrance is located on Via Pavia 2, where the Italian Environmental Fund organizes guided tours. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as many paths cross uneven ground and stairs.
The fortress is among the largest fully preserved military structures from the 18th century in Europe. Its layout has never been altered, so the entire system of bastions, casemates, and moats still functions today as it did when it was built.
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