Castle of the Month: Maschio Angiono

You thought I'd forgotten 'Castle of the Month', didn't you?  True, I'm cutting it a bit fine this month, but I thought I'd wait and have a distinct Neopolitan flavour to it.

We'll set Pompeii aside for a couple of days, and travel instead to the incredible Maschio Angiono, which dominates the harbour-side in Naples:-

 

Also called 'Castel Nuovo' - the 'New Castle' - it was built by Charles I of Anjou in the second half of the 13th century.  It has a humdinger of a curtain wall with an impressive batter that would surely make castle-holics everywhere sit up and take note:-

As is the lot of castellated and defensive structures the world over, this particular castle has seen a lot of reconfiguration and rebuilding through the years.  The most important phase of this reworking took place in the late 15th century, under the direction of Alphonso I of Aragon.  Amongst the changes made at this time was the building of a triumphal arch at the main, front entrance:-

 

And if you want a closer look at the archway:-

 

And tomorrow we'll go inside...
 

Castle of the Month: Maschio Angiono

You thought I'd forgotten 'Castle of the Month', didn't you?  True, I'm cutting it a bit fine this month, but I thought I'd wait and have a distinct Neopolitan flavour to it.

We'll set Pompeii aside for a couple of days, and travel instead to the incredible Maschio Angiono, which dominates the harbour-side in Naples:-

 

Also called 'Castel Nuovo' - the 'New Castle' - it was built by Charles I of Anjou in the second half of the 13th century.  It has a humdinger of a curtain wall with an impressive batter that would surely make castle-holics everywhere sit up and take note:-

As is the lot of castellated and defensive structures the world over, this particular castle has seen a lot of reconfiguration and rebuilding through the years.  The most important phase of this reworking took place in the late 15th century, under the direction of Alphonso I of Aragon.  Amongst the changes made at this time was the building of a triumphal arch at the main, front entrance:-

 

And if you want a closer look at the archway:-

 

And tomorrow we'll go inside...