Alfonsino Castle – Brindisi

Located at the entrance to the port of Brindisi, the Alfonsino Castle, also known as the Forte a Mare, is one of the most significant historical structures of the Apulian city.

The castle has various titles, Castello di Mare to distinguish it from the Castello di Terra (i.e. the Swabian Castle), Castello Alfonsino or Aragonese due to the family that built it and Castello Rosso because during the hours of sunset the structure takes on an extraordinary reddish color due to the tuff with which it was built.

With its strategic position, this castle not only had a fundamental role in the defense of the city, but is also an important symbol of the history and evolution of Brindisi as a seaport and center of trade.

If you find yourself in Brindisi during your trip to Puglia, our advice is to add this magnificent Castle to your itinerary as it represents one of the main tourist attractions of the city.

Historical notes

Located on the island of Sant’Andrea, at the mouth of the inner port of Brindisi, the Castle stands on the ruins of a Benedictine abbey, whose existence is attested between 1059 and 1348.

However, its construction dates back to 1445 when Ferdinand I of Aragon commissioned his son Alfonso to build the Castle to protect the port. The latter was in fact vulnerable to pirate attacks and incursions by enemies coming from the sea, which is why it was decided to build a defensive structure to guard the entrance to the port of Brindisi.

Subsequently, the original nucleus was equipped with two defensive bastions, the quadrangular dock and a reception room; during the reign of Philip II, the fortress was further expanded towards the north with the construction of the Forte a Mare, which housed around a hundred lodgings for the troops and large storage spaces.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Castle became a military base until, in 1983, the Navy decommissioned it. Since then, the complex has been included in the State Historical Artistic Property and has been granted for government use to the Ministry of Culture – Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Provinces of Brindisi and Lecce.

The architecture of the Alfonsino Castle

The Alfonsino Castle is an example of a fortification designed according to the advanced techniques of the Renaissance, with particular attention to resistance against artillery and warships. Its circular plan is a typical feature of the forts built in that period, which was intended to ensure a 360-degree defense. The walls of the castle are thick and solid, able to withstand external attacks, while the moat surrounding the structure made it even more difficult to reach.

The castle was also equipped with corner towers, which served as observation points and advanced defense. The towers, connected by a series of internal courtyards and underground passages, housed a large number of soldiers and artillery. In addition, the presence of a sturdy entrance door and a series of tall, narrow windows, from which cannons and other firearms could be fired, completed the defensive functionality of the structure.

Originally, the castle was surrounded by a moat that separated it from the rest of the city and guaranteed its defense against possible attacks from land. The only access was represented by a drawbridge that allowed you to cross the moat and access the castle. This defense system made it practically inaccessible to any enemy force that tried to invade the city through the port.

Useful information for the visit

Due to the peculiarity of the site, the Castle is accessible only through guided tours conducted by specialized personnel (also in English and Spanish). Reservations are required through the website www.pastpuglia.it or on the PastPuglia App.

The guided tour and enhancement services of the Castle are provided by Ets Le Colonne, thanks to the partnership agreement signed with the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Provinces of Brindisi and Lecce.

Cost of the visit: €8 per person; €6 for residents in the province of Brindisi; €6 for groups of at least 30 people; free for children under 5.

At the entrance to the structure, it will be mandatory to show, in addition to the receipt of purchase of the guided tour, also a valid identity document.

For information or assistance, please contact the telephone numbers indicated in the time slots 10:00/12:00 – 16:00/18:00.

+393792653244

segreterialecolonne@gmail.com