Forte Castellaccio is an abandoned hilltop fortress in Messina, Sicily built by Juan de Vega, Viceroy of Sicily around the middle of the 16th Century as part of a defensive project ordered by Emperor Charles V of Habsburg.[1] It was designed by the Italian military architect Antonio Ferramolino (died. 1550).[2] It was damaged by the 1908 Messina earthquake[3] before being briefly reused as a 'colony for boys' in the 1940s.[4] Despite several attempts to renovate the site since, it has remained abandoned and considered locally to be haunted by the ghosts of orphans and by the apparition of a nun.[3]
Forte Castellaccio | |
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Part of the fortifications of Messina | |
Messina, Sicily, Italy | |
![]() View of Forte Castellaccio | |
Coordinates | 38°11′46.046″N 15°32′26.909″E / 38.19612389°N 15.54080806°E |
Site information | |
Condition | Derelict |
Site history | |
Built | c. 1547 |
Built by | Kingdom of Sicily |
Materials | Limestone |
Description
editThe fortress stands on a hill between Gravitelli and Montepiselli, a short distance from Forte Gonzaga, another 16th Century defensive structure also built by Juan de Vega and designed by Antonio Ferramolino.[3] The original structure has a quadrangular design and is annexed by several more modern buildings, all now in a state of dereliction.
Images
edit-
Abandoned Forte Castellaccio
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Derelict building annexed to Forte Castellaccio
References
edit- ^ Murray (Firm), John (1892). A Handbook for Travellers in Southern Italy and Sicily: Sicily. J. Murray.
- ^ "Forte Castellaccio, maestosa fortezza abbandonata tra storia e misteri". Siciliafan (in Italian). 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ a b c F, Giuseppe (2022-03-12). "I fantasmi di Forte Castellaccio a Messina". Curiosauro (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ Marzo 2023 16:14, Vincenzo Ricciardi 4 (2023-03-04). "Il Castellaccio, un forte diventato colonia per bambini e ora abbandonato da anni VIDEO e FOTO". Tempo Stretto - Ultime notizie da Messina e Reggio Calabria (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-07-22.
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