Forte Michelangelo
The Forte Michelangelo is a fortress in the Italian city of Civitavecchia .
location
It is located west of the city center at the southern end of the port of Civitavecchia on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea .
Architecture and history
The fortress, which serves to protect the harbor, was built in the Renaissance from 1508 at the instigation of Pope Julius II, initially by the builder Donato Bramante . The background was frequent pirate attacks. Julius II himself laid the foundation stone on December 14, 1508. On the east tower of the fortress, a coat of arms showing an oak marks the place where the foundation stone was laid. In Roman times there was a large building on the site of the fortress. The work was continued by the students of Bramante's Giuliano Leno and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger . The fortress itself was completed in 1535. The floor plan is rectangular with sides of 100 by 82 meters, with circular towers at the corners. They are named San Paolo (southeast), San Pietro (southwest), San Romolo (northwest) and San Giulio (northeast). A tower dominating the north flank is laid out on an octagonal floor plan. It was built until 1537. Michelangelo is said to have been commissioned with its completion , from which the name of the fortress derives. To the west of the north tower is still a remnant of the facility with which the drawbridge originally located there could be pulled. The outside of the fortress is clad with travertine blocks. An underground corridor is said to have led from the fortress towards the city. The fortress has a chapel dedicated to Saint Fermina , the patron saint of the city. The saint is said to have found refuge in a cave at this point.
The fortress was involved in fighting several times. It suffered severe damage in air raids during World War II , but was later restored. At the beginning of the 21st century, a further renovation and reorganization and upgrading of the immediate area took place. It is currently used as the seat of the port authority.
Web links
- Forte Michelangelo on theportofrome.com
- Forte Michelangelo | Civitavecchia on scoprendoroma.info (Italian)
- IL FORTE MICHELANGELO on civitavecchia.portmobility.it (Italian)
Coordinates: 42 ° 5 ′ 25.1 ″ N , 11 ° 47 ′ 26.8 ″ E