El Castillo de L’Aquila. Fortificación e identidad local

The city of L’Aquila, which was founded twice (both times in the 13th century), was, in the 15th century, the second most important city in the Kingdom of Naples. At the same time, it was a territory disputed between the Spanish and the French. It is within this historical context that the construction of an important castle began, initiated by the Viceroy, Prince Philibert of Orange, and completed by his successor, Pedro de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca. It was in this context that the renowned Valencian architect Luis Escrivá was summoned to L’Aquila.The objective was to dominate the strategic routes between the Papal States and the southern part of the Italian peninsula (the Via degli Abruzzi) while simultaneously subjugating the population of L’Aquila, which had rebelled against imperial forces, taking a pro-French position in an attempt to regain its independence. Several sources mention the existence of an inscription that read "ad reprimendam audaciam aquilanorum" ("to curb the audacity of the Aquilans").The Castle of L’Aquila became an important example that brought together advancements in the fortification science of the time, serving as a model for the subsequent construction of the Castle of San Telmo in Naples, also by Escrivá. This study seeks to delve deeper into the historical issues related to the construction of this defensive architecture by consulting various sources and exploring the local identity themes that have turned this structure into a symbol of the city and its population.