Castle of Sant’Eusanio Forconese

The Castle of Sant’Eusanio Forconese is a medieval castle in Sant’Eusanio Forconese, L’Aquila.

To provide protection for the populace in the event of danger, the structure of the building is similar to an enclosed castle. In contrast to previous enclosure castles in the region, the presence of a tank of drinking water indicates that the building was able to give refuge for extended periods of time. It was strategically important for the defense of L’Aquila because of its location in the middle of the Aterno-Pescara river valley, close to the castles of Ocre, San Pio delle Camere, and Barisciano.

The castle is square in shape, with walls enclosing four square towers and five semicircular towers with internal diameters ranging from three to five meters. The walls are approximately one meter thick and range in height from five to seven meters. The castle is guarded by a moat on its western side, which lacks any natural fortifications. Close to the Our Lady of the Castle church, the entrance is through an arched door in a square tower. When the castle lost its military purpose in the 17th and 18th centuries, this chapel was constructed inside the enclosure.