In 1535 the viceroy Don Ferdinando Gonzaga, sent by the Emperor and King of Spain Charles V, arrived in Syracuse. These times were in danger of Turkish invasion.
For this reason, in 1537 Syracuse became a
fortified town
according to Gonzaga’s design of strategic and defensive reinforcement, a project that involved the construction of numerous structures using material obtained by partially destroying some of the greatest Greek monuments, rendered meaningless stone quarries.
The city walls built in Spanish times were an ingenious example of military architecture: protected by massive ramparts, they rose up from the ground and unravelled along the rugged coastline.
The Castello Maniace was incorporated into the circuit, forming the watchtower, or the heart of the grandiose defence system at the entrance to the Porto Grande. The castle area was enclosed by walls and equipped with walkways and platforms for the artillery.
An
outpost
was also built to further protect the entrance to the island of Ortygia.
In 1614, again in the Spanish period, the famous coat of arms was placed above the portal. Among the countless historical events that took place within its walls, one concerning the name change from Maniace to
San Giacomo
is particularly curious.
In 1618 the castle took the name of San Giacomo and the four corner towers were named San Pietro, Santa Caterina, San Filippo and Santa Lucia. Although many military structures were built around the castle in the 17th century, its main body was never altered and its square, turreted bulk still stands above the Spanish ramparts today.
