CASTLE OF CHARLES V, Castle Of Charles V

Hi, my name’s Scott, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: the Castle of Charles V, the formidable fortress in Lecce that is one of the largest in Apulia.

Construction of the Castle began in 1537, on the orders of the emperor, Charles V, by the expert military engineer from Naples, Gian Giacomo dell'Acaya, along with the magnificent city walls, part of which are now gone. Designed in accordance with the most modern military techniques of the time, the fortress incorporated an earlier castle, from the 13th century, of which the powerful square keep, or main tower, is still visible.

The castle was surrounded by a moat, which was filled in the 19th century; entrance was through two gates with drawbridges. There are embrasures on the walls for the artillery, reinforced with four forbidding arrow-head bastions at the corners.

Charles V stopped at nothing when it came to building his castles: this was the site of the Convent of the Celestine Order and the Church of Santa Croce, which were completely demolished and rebuilt within the city walls, where they can still be seen today....