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Forte Spagnolo today

Italy · Restored

Forte Spagnolo

The Forte Spagnolo is a 16th-century Spanish Renaissance fortress in L'Aquila, Italy, built to control the city and notable for its massive bastioned form. After varied military and penal uses it was restored in the mid-20th century and now houses the Museo Nazionale d'Abruzzo.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1534

Its prime

1567

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1567

What Forte Spagnolo looked like in its prime.

Massive, roughly quadrangular bastioned fortress of pale local stone with four large angled corner bastions linked by long, very thick sloping curtain walls. The lower faces are battered to throw off artillery and sit above a wide, dry ditch; walls are topped by high merlons and cannon embrasures. Inside the enclosure a long two-story range with terracotta tile roofs and a row of stone arches/arcades borders a central rectangular courtyard; the whole stands amid wooded high ground.

Its story

The story of Forte Spagnolo.

The Forte Spagnolo, locally simply il Castello, was begun in 1534 as a Spanish Renaissance fortress to control the city of L'Aquila. Its architect Escrivà planned a giant of four bastions linked by 60-metre walls, 30 metres thick at the base, ringed by a dry ditch 23 metres wide and 14 deep; a whole hill was levelled to supply the white stone, and the city's bells were melted down to make the cannons.

Each bastion held two self-sufficient "case matte", almost independent garrisons in their own right, and Escrivà added an anti-mine corridor between the outer and inner walls, passable by only one man at a time. The city's aqueduct was diverted to supply the fortress first, and to cut L'Aquila's water in case of rebellion. The burden told: thirty years of heavy taxes so impoverished the city that in 1567 it begged the Spaniards to stop, the Royal Court granted the request, and parts of the castle were never completed.

In 1798 the citizens attacked the French-held fortress in vain, and it was afterwards used as a prison, then from 1860 as a military headquarters. Occupied and damaged by the Germans in the Second World War, it was restored between 1949 and 1951 and chosen as the seat of the Museo Nazionale d'Abruzzo.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1567.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Forte Spagnolo, including 4 interiors: inner rectangular courtyard, arcaded loggia and galleries, case matte (bastion interior) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the dry ditchEntrance bridge and gatehouseExterior face of a corner bastionRamparts and parapet walkInner rectangular courtyardArcaded loggia and galleriesCase matte (bastion interior)Anti-mine corridor

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Questions about Forte Spagnolo

What is the history of Forte Spagnolo?

Forte Spagnolo began in the 16th century as a Spanish Renaissance fortress intended to control L’Aquila. Construction started in 1534 and continued for about thirty years, but heavy taxes led the city to request an end to the works in 1567, leaving parts incomplete. It later served as a prison and military headquarters, suffered wartime damage, and was restored between 1949 and 1951.

What is inside Forte Spagnolo?

Inside Forte Spagnolo are a square courtyard, an arcaded loggia and galleries, and the case matte within the bastions. The fortress also contains an anti-mine corridor between its outer and inner walls, designed so that only one man could pass at a time. Its spaces now include the Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo, an auditorium and a conference room.

Why was Forte Spagnolo built, and what was it used for?

Forte Spagnolo was built to control L’Aquila and to serve as a self-sufficient military fortress. Its cannons were directed towards the city, making it an instrument of control as well as defence. Later it became a residence for the Spanish governor, a prison and a military headquarters, before becoming the seat of the Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo.

Where is Forte Spagnolo?

Forte Spagnolo is in L’Aquila, in central Italy. It stands on high ground in the city and is surrounded by the wooded Parco del Castello. The fortress is located in the administrative territorial entity of L’Aquila.

When was Forte Spagnolo built?

Forte Spagnolo was begun in 1534, in the 16th century. It was raised in stages over roughly thirty years, with construction stopping in 1567 before every part of the planned fortress was complete. The date 1534 is also given as its inception.

Was Forte Spagnolo ever attacked or besieged?

Forte Spagnolo was attacked in 1798 by citizens fighting against the French occupation, but the assault failed. It was not used in an important battle by the Spaniards and is described as never having been used in a battle. The fortress therefore remained in the attackers’ hands during the unsuccessful assault.

What did Forte Spagnolo look like in its prime?

Forte Spagnolo was a massive, roughly quadrangular Renaissance fortress built of pale local stone. Four large angled bastions join long, very thick sloping walls above a wide dry ditch. High merlons and cannon embrasures crown the walls, while a two-storey range with terracotta roofs and stone arcades encloses the central rectangular courtyard.

Is Forte Spagnolo still standing, or is it a ruin?

Forte Spagnolo is still standing and is restored rather than a ruin. It was restored between 1949 and 1951 after suffering damage during the Second World War. The fortress was also badly damaged by the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, particularly at the bridge over the ditch and on the upper floors, and reconstruction and restoration work began in 2011.

Can you visit Forte Spagnolo?

Forte Spagnolo can be visited as the seat of the Museo Nazionale d’Abruzzo. Its spaces also host exhibitions, conferences, an auditorium and a conference room, and the anti-mine corridor can be visited. The fortress is an Italian national heritage site.

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