Castello Aragonese: Surviving a Renaissance Fortress

Castello Aragonese, situated in Ortona, Province of Chieti, Italy, traces its origins back to the 15th century. It was initially a defensive fortress constructed by the Aragonese family, expanding an existing structure from the 14th century. In 1492, the first building of the castle was erected. The castle's defensive purpose persisted until the 17th century, when the Baglioni family acquired it and transformed it into a noble residence. A palatial palace was built within the castle walls, but it was abandoned in the 19th century. The Battle of Ortona in 1943 saw the castle hit by German bombs and Canadian grenades, leading to significant damage and the explosion of stored gunpowder. A year later, a landslide destroyed nearly half of the castle, the portion facing the sea from the tuff cliff. Today, only three of the four cylindrical corner towers remain.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons