View source for Castel Sant'Angelo (Licata)

{{Short description|Fort in Licata, Sicily, Italy}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Castel Sant'Angelo
| location = [[Licata]], [[Sicily]], [[Italy]]
| image = Castel Sant'Angelo (Licata) 03.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = View of Castel Sant'Angelo, with the original tower on the left
| type = [[Watchtower]]<br>[[Fort]]
| coordinates = {{coord|37|6|3|N|13|55|54.3|E|type:landmark|display=inline}}
| image_map =
| image_map_caption =
| ownership = Comune di Licata
| open_to_public = Yes
| built = 1583–1585 (tower)<br>1615–1640 (fort)
| used = 1585–19th century
| builder = [[Kingdom of Sicily]]
| materials =
| height =
| condition = Intact}}
'''Castel Sant'Angelo''', also known as '''Forte Sant'Angelo''', is a [[fort]] in [[Licata]], [[Sicily]]. It was originally built as a [[watchtower]] in the 1580s, and was expanded into a fort between 1615 and 1640. Today, the fort is in good condition and is open to the public.
Castel Sant'Angelo is located on the top of Monte Sant'Angelo, a hill {{convert|130|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, overlooking the city to the north and its harbour to the south. Several archaeological sites, including remains of a Hellenistic settlement, can be found in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Area archeologica di Monte Sant'Angelo e Castel Sant'Angelo|url=http://www.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/dirbenicult/database/page_musei/pagina_musei.asp?ID=160&IdSito=14|website=Regione Siciliana|accessdate=16 September 2015|language=it|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206080204/http://www.regione.sicilia.it/beniculturali/dirbenicult/database/page_musei/pagina_musei.asp?ID=160&IdSito=14|archivedate=6 December 2015}}</ref>
==History==
The first fortification to be built on Monte Sant'Angelo was a [[watchtower]], which was constructed between 1583 and 1585 on the orders of Viceroy [[Marcantonio Colonna]]. The tower was designed by the military engineer [[Camillo Camilliani]].<ref name=castlesnl>{{cite web|title=Fort Sant'Angelo|url=http://www.castles.nl/fort-sant-angelo|website=Castles.nl|accessdate=16 September 2015}}</ref>
In 1615, Hernando Petigno, the general commander of the Royal Cavalry of Sicily and Military Governor of Syracuse, began building a fort on the site, incorporating the tower as the fort's keep. Construction was halted, but it was resumed in 1636 and completed in 1640 under the direction of Serpione Cottone, Marquis d'Altamura.<ref>{{cite web|title=Torre Castel S. Angelo|url=http://www.provincia.agrigento.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/2363|website=Provincia di Agrigento|accessdate=16 September 2015|language=it}}</ref>
[[File:Castel Sant'Angelo (Licata) 06.jpg|thumb|left|The courtyard of Castel Sant'Angelo]]
The fort never fired its guns in anger, and was decommissioned in the 19th century. It was a telegraph station between 1849 and 1856. In the early 20th century, it became a lighthouse. It was severely damaged during the [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] on 10 July 1943, when it was bombarded by [[USS Brooklyn (CL-40)|USS ''Brooklyn'']] and [[USS Buck (DD-420)|USS ''Buck'']]. The damaged parts of the fort were later repaired.<ref name=castlesnl/>
The lighthouse in Castel Sant'Angelo closed in 1965, and the fort was abandoned. It was declared a historic monument on 8 July 1969, and it was restored in the 1980s.<ref name=comune>{{cite web|title=Castel Sant'Angelo|url=http://www.comune.licata.ag.it/il-territorio/fortezze-e-torri/castel-santangelo-xii-sec|website=Comune di Licata|accessdate=16 September 2015|language=it}}</ref>
Today, the fort is in good condition and is open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Orlando|first1=Andrea|title=Forte Sant'Angelo Di Licata|url=http://www.icastelli.it/castle-1234808899-forte_santangelo_di_licata-it.php|website=iCastelli.it|accessdate=16 September 2015|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112221225/http://www.icastelli.it/castle-1234808899-forte_santangelo_di_licata-it.php|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> There are plans to turn it into a museum.<ref name=castlesnl/>
==Layout==
The fort has a triangular shape, with the 16th century tower serving as its [[keep]]. The fort is built in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque style]], and it includes a central courtyard, barracks, stables and warehouses. Access to the fort was only allowed through a drawbridge over a moat. The fort also contained a chapel, but this no longer exists.<ref name=comune/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Castel Sant'Angelo (Licata)}}
[[Category:Towers in Sicily]]
[[Category:Forts in Sicily|Sant'Angelo]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Agrigento]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1585]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1640]]
[[Category:Military installations closed in the 19th century]]
[[Category:Baroque architecture in Sicily]]
[[Category:Telegraph stations]]
[[Category:1640 establishments in the Kingdom of Sicily]]