Arsenals and Cittadella

Una delle navi restaurate (Museo Navi Romane)

Republican Arsenal and Citadella: a great water basin within the walls, dated 1160. The structure was impressive, so much so that King Alfonso IV of Aragon, when he commissioned the construction of an arsenal in Porto Torres, specifically requested that it be made like that of the Pisans. In 1290, the Ghibelline tower was built in the southwest corner, now disappeared, later the San'Agnese tower to the north, the only one still intact near the old slaughterhouses, then the tower of San Giorgio, on Via Bonanno, partially visible. The large arcaded sheds, about eighty, were used to build the Pisan galleys, long and mighty warships. The palazzotto, or castellaccio, today home to temporary exhibitions, was modified by the Florentines after the conquest of 1406 and a new tower was erected nearby, called Guelfa, rebuilt after the war events of '44. After 1543 the shipbuilding functions were moved to the new Medicean Arsenal. With the unification of Italy, the Cittadella was used as artillery barracks and a large door was opened in the medieval walls. Unfortunately, the whole area was severely damaged during the Second World War.

Porta Degazia: from which Corradino di Svevia entered on 7 April 1268 transported by Pisan galleys. The sovereign stopped in the Ghibelline city and then continued towards Naples in an attempt to annihilate the Angevin troops. Unfortunately he was wounded and fell in battle. This event definitely marked the end of the empire in Italy and in a sense the beginning of the decline of the Republic of Pisa. The door is still visible on the back of the castellaccio.