Fortifications, City Doors, Walls and Bastions

Trapani

EXPLORE

Add to wishlist

Trapani became for want of the emperor Carlo V Urbs invictissima, thanks to the strengthening of its defensive system that, still today, is visible and enriches of historical and monumental fascination the city. This city, in fact, so open to the sea, had already been equipped with fortifications.

To protect the city on the northern side and the channel that connected the port to the Tyrrhenian Sea, we owe the medieval fortification of the Castello di Terra, an imposing building from the quadrilateral plant, with half curtain towers and corner towers.

Of the eleven city gates that made up the city walls of Trapani wanted by James II of Aragon at the end of the thirteenth century remain today Porta Oscura, dominated by the Clock Tower – one of the five depicted in the coat of arms of Trapani – and Porta delle Botteghelle (or ‘putièlle’) that opens onto the sea.

In 1535, the walls of Trapani were strengthened and enlarged with powerful bastions, isolating the city from the mainland with a deep moat and a navigable canal to prevent pirate raids.

This project was designed by the engineer Ferramolino from Bergamo during the sixteenth century. The Bastion of the Impossible – located on the south-eastern side – and the Imperial Bastion (or of Sant’Anna), in correspondence of the north-western corner, were an integral part of the defence system of the ancient city: this mighty bastion, with sloping walls and surmounted by battlements, became an impossible prison to escape from.

The so-called Mura di Tramontana, of which today remains an extension of about one kilometer, are also part of the system of fortifications built during the Spanish domination. Besides enjoying the suggestive panorama, from these walls it is possible to access the homonymous beach below. From the path along the Walls of Tramontana it is possible to reach the Bastione Conca, born to defend and control the wide stretch of sea on which today overlooks the historic centre of Trapani and that allows you to enjoy an exceptional view with the bright colours of the sea and the light of this stretch of coast.