Fortezza Fortress, Franzensfeste, Italy

Fortezza Fortress is one of the most striking fortresses of the Alpine area. On an area of 20 hectares, in the period between 1833 and 1838 AD, this fortress was built under the rule of Ferdinand I of Austria. The building comprises a giant labyrinth of rooms, corridors and stairways. The German name of the fortress, that is Franzensfeste, derives from Francis (Franz) I of Austria who ruled in the period when the fortress had been planned. The purpose of the Fortezza Fortress was to safeguard the traffic connection across the Alta Valle Isarco via the Brenner pass.

Partly 3,000 to 4,000 men were occupied with construction works at the same time. At the altitude of the caverns, munition was stored, while the lower part of the buildings houses the barracks. The two parts of the fortress were connected by a stairway with 433 steps, hewn in stone. Even if the fortification was actually designed for war purposes, it was never really involved in struggles. Still today, in the surroundings, there are several more pillboxes that were constructed around 1930 by the Italian army in order to once more fortify the Fortezza Fortress.

Today the complex can be visited in guided tours and features a museum. The permanent exhibition provides information about the history of this place and its surroundings. It also ventures the guess that the hoar of gold of the Italian National Bank was hidden in this place in WWII. Moreover the exhibition forges a bridge up to the present days and the future. By the way, the fortress today is also venue for various events such as the European Biennal of Contemporary Art Manifesta7 as well as some cultural events.

References:

suedtirolerland.it

Castles and fortifications in Italy

User Reviews

Christian Lautenbacher (3 years ago)
We expected a castle with knights or exhibits, but didn't found any of it. Only naked Walls. That you should know

V. Augusto Valentini Milleri (3 years ago)
In summer there's nothing to really see. Huge work that obviously needs respect but it's an all empty fortress with not even some historical facts, or reconstruction. At least put a cannon inside or two uniforms and some detailed facts around the fort. All empty and takes forever if you really wanna visit. Shame that the upper can be visited only with guides and shame that there's no sign of the free parking. Bar was closed as well and there are not even some automatic seller for a bottle of water. Best part the Brenner tunnel exhibition, that's really interesting.

Renzo Titonel (4 years ago)
An historical location, a fortress that have to be visited once at least. Specially in winter time, while visiting in late afternoon, the little xmas market organised inside, combined with a classic music concert (held in a specific date) we've got a magic, nearly surreal impression, of all the surrounding!

Big Mike Wise (4 years ago)
A super cool place to visit!

Zoran Miladinovic (4 years ago)
unexpected fantastic experience. we must come again. did not have enough time to see all of it.

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Monte d'Accoddi

Monte d"Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.

The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.

The initial Ozieri structure was abandoned or destroyed around 3000 BC, with traces of fire found in the archeological evidence. Around 2800 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, truncated by a step pyramid (36 m × 29 m, about 10 m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42 m long, built over the older one. This second temple resembles contemporary Mesopotamian ziggurats, and is attributed to the Abealzu-Filigosa culture.

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The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.

The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.

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