Castello di San Giusto
Castello di San Giusto (German Kastell von San Giusto ) is the medieval castle and fortress in the northern Italian city of Trieste . Along with the Cathedral of San Giusto , it is one of the landmarks of Trieste. With its almost 200-year construction period (1471 to 1630), the castle is a testament to the change and development of construction technology in buildings with a military function.
location
The Castello di San Giusto is located on the city hill of the same name, the ancient center of Trieste.
designation
The castle is named after Saint Justus , the city's patron saint.
function
From its construction in 1471 until the end of the 18th century, the fortress was home to the captain or governor ( Capitano ), who was appointed by the emperor and who held control of the city of Trieste. Later the fort was used as a barracks . Despite its mighty appearance, the fortress was always of little military importance and only twice involved in actual war actions: In 1813 French troops holed up in the fortress and resisted the Austrian armed forces, which later liberated the city. In April and May 1945, German soldiers barricaded themselves inside the castle, who were finally defeated by Allied troops.
The castle has been owned by the municipality of Trieste since the 1930s. Today the Castello di San Giusto serves as a castle and weapons museum ( Museo del Castello di San Giusto e l'Armeria ) and is used as a place for exhibitions, theater performances, concerts and other cultural events. In April 2001 the Lapidario Tergestino was opened in the Bastion Lalio , which contains a collection of ancient Roman sculptures, inscriptions, reliefs and other architectural fragments from Trieste and its surroundings.
history
It is believed that the site of today's Castello di San Giusto dates back to 2000 BC. A prehistoric castelliere found.
In Roman times there was an administrative and religious center on the hill, as evidenced by the remains of columns of a Roman basilica from the 2nd century.
During the brief occupation of Trieste by the Republic of Venice in 1368, the naval powers had fortification walls built on the site of the current fort, which were part of a complicated defense system extending from the sea. However, the fortress was destroyed a little later. The construction of today's Castello di San Giusto began a little later. The construction time extended over a period of 200 years and took place in four construction phases:
- 1st construction phase : In 1468, Emperor Friedrich III. as proof of his will to rule the city of Trieste in the future, he proposed the construction of a fort on the ruins of the ruined Venetian castle. The original elements of the first construction phase are the vestibule with the adjoining guard rooms and the San Giorgio chapel, at the entrance of which the Austrian ruler's coat of arms , the construction date in 1471 and the motto AEIOU are attached.
- 2nd construction phase : In 1508 Trieste came under the rule of the Venetians again for a short time. Venice planned to construct a triangular fortress into which the existing buildings should be integrated. The three vertices of the fortress were to be closed off by round bastions. However, the maritime power only held power over the city for a short time and could therefore only start building the round bastion Bastione Veneto , which was only completed after the return of the Austrians in 1509.
- 3rd construction phase : Between 1553 and 1561, at the request of the city governor Giovanni de Hoyos, another defensive point was built, which bears his name or is called Bastione Lalio after the imperial master builder of the Inner Austrian lands, Domenico dell'Allio (1515–1563) . Contrary to the original plans of the Venetians to build round defensive points, Domenico dell'Allio, who also designed the cistern on the Graz Schloßberg , had a square bastion built. The reason for this was the introduction of gunpowder, which made changes to fortifications necessary.
- 4th construction phase : In the fourth and final construction phase between 1615 and 1630, the architect and inner Austrian court painter Giovanni Pietro de Pomis (1569–1633) completed the fortress with the last point of defense, Bastione Pomis or Bastione Fiorito .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Marzia Vidulli Torlo (2003): Il Lapidario Tergestino al Castello di San Giusto , 2nd edition (Rotary Club Trieste), Trieste, p. 7
literature
- Michela Messina (2007): Il Castello di San Giusto a Trieste - Il Civico Museo e l'Armeria (Rotary Club Trieste), Trieste.
Web links
Coordinates: 45 ° 38 ′ 47 " N , 13 ° 46 ′ 21" E