Utente:Dark fra08/Sandbox-en

Castello Angioino, also known as Castello Forte a Mare, stands at the entrance of the maritime city of Brindisi, precisely on the Island of Sant'Andrea. This imposing military construction was built to defend the harbor and city from Turkish attacks. Its creation began in 1558, by order of Philip II of Habsburg, and the works lasted 46 years.

History

The castle was later expanded by the Spanish to protect Brindisi from sea attacks by the Venetians and Turks. The city became the main military detachment of the Kingdom. Alfonso I of Aragon decided to strengthen the island of Sant'Andrea, incorporating the remains of an Angevin structure already present.

Structure

Castello Angioino has a trapezoidal layout and is composed of two main parts: the Aragonese part, dating back to the 1400s, and the part known as Forte a Mare, built in the 1500s. This magnificent castle has two floors, with a raised rectangular courtyard compared to sea level. From the courtyard, the ground floor galleries are accessed via flights of stairs.

Inside the castle there is a reception hall decorated with a sink with rich frames decorated with phytoform motifs and coats of arms of Emperor Charles V. The stone jambs date back to 1527. The two bastions, one round and one triangular, are from the 16th century. After Otranto was taken by the Turks in 1480, another polygonal tower was added, completing the triangular shape of the castle, which was fortified with high walls.

Castello Alfonsino is sometimes called "Castello Rosso" because of the vermilion color of the stone used in its construction. The island of St. Andrew, with its conical shape, holds the remains of a Benedictine abbey, now preserved in the Brindisi’s Archaeological Museum.

Historical Events

In February 1481, Ferrante of Aragon inaugurated the construction of the fortress to guard Brindisi. This new fortress would have allowed the defense of the city with only a few soldiers, considering its claimed low population. In 1484, the new fortress fend off the Venetian fleet from entering the port.

The soldiers' quarters were located along the three arms of the parade ground, while the command was located in the establishment to the left of the entrance and the church to the right. The fort and the castle were connected directly across the curtain with a bridge leading to the royal gate, on which the emblem of Philip II and an epigraphic memorial was placed.

In 1485, the military stronghold was expanded and assumed the form of a real castle, taking the name Castello Alfonsino. In 1495, during the invasion of the Kingdom of Naples by the troops of Charles VIII, the fortress of Brindisi offered security and asylum to its citizens. In 1598, it was further secured, and in 1616, a Venetian fleet attempted to attack the port of Brindisi, but it was effectively repulsed by artillery from the island's fortresses.

On April 9th, 1799, the French vessel Generoso was in the surrounding area of the burg of the island of St. Andrew. The adventurer Boccheciampe, who had control of Brindisi, ordered the castle artillery to fire on the French. The forts were almost devoid of defenders so the enemies took over the castle.

On April 16th, the French abandoned the castle, leaving the fortress with large supplies of flour, beans, cookies, wine, chickpeas, meat etc.

In 1983, already decommissioned by the Navy, the Alfonsino Castle became the responsibility of the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage.         

Bibliografia

• Gubitosi C. - Izzo A., Il castello aragonese di Brindisi. Forte a mare, Università degli studi - Istituto di elementi di architettura e rilievo dei monumenti, Napoli 1968.
• Carito G., Nuova Guida Brindisi, Italgrafica, Brindisi 1993

Collegamenti Esterni

• Il Castello di Mare o Castello Alfonsino su Brindarte.it