Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle), Taranto (must see)

The Aragonese Castle of Taranto, also known as Castle Saint Angelo, is an imposing fortress with a long and layered history. Located at the southern tip of the island that forms Taranto's historic center, the castle has undergone multiple transformations over the centuries. Its origins date back to 780 AD, when the Byzantines constructed a stronghold to defend the city from Saracen and Venetian attacks. Over time, the structure was expanded and modified by successive rulers, including the Normans, Swabians, and Angevins.

The castle's current design is attributed to the famous Sienese architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini, who is believed to have played a role in the fortress’s restructuring. The castle features four main towers—San Cristoforo, San Lorenzo, dell'Annunziata, and della Bandiera—each strategically placed to optimize the fort’s defensive capabilities. Over the centuries, the castle has served a variety of functions, including a military barracks, prison, and administrative center.

One of its most notable prisoners was Alexandre Dumas, whose son later used his father’s imprisonment as inspiration for the classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Today, although the Italian Navy operates the site as a military base, guided tours allow visitors to explore its historic rooms, underground chambers, and panoramic terraces, offering breathtaking views of the city and surrounding waters.

Crossing the Avanzata Bridge, visitors enter the Renaissance-era vestibule, where the chapel of San Leonardo stands in its austere yet elegant simplicity. The main courtyard, once a center of military activity, leads to various rooms, including former barracks, ammunition storage areas, and the castellans' quarters. One of the castle’s most fascinating elements is the tower of San Cristoforo, the largest of its kind, measuring 28 meters in diameter. Below the fortress, archaeological explorations have uncovered relics from multiple historical periods, including medieval ceramics, Byzantine coins, and what may have been an ancient Roman aqueduct.