La Real Cittadella di Messina: dismissione e nuovi usi / The Real Cittadella of Messina: disposal and new uses

The city of Messina in the mid-seventeenth century still enjoyed privileges coming from the trade arising from the Norman period agreements on the Consulate of the Silk Road, poorly tolerated by Spanish government because the privileges took away resources to State treasure. The contrast between the population and senators and nobles resulted in a revolt at the end of which the Spanish government decided to strengthen the fortifications already behind the city and at the end of the S. Ranieri peninsula that protects the city's port. The access to the port was defended by a pentagonal building with bastions functional to the military technology of the time. This fortification absolved the functions of defense of the city and the Straits of Messina but also served as deterrent in order to control the population of Messina and it was a warning to the city. After the Unification of Italy the city of Messina asked to demolish the fortification which was a threat to the city. The demands of Messina were partially answered only in the first half of the twentieth century. Then were demolished two of the ramparts turned towards the city and the Citadel was transformed gradually into an uncomfortable presence that could provide good building material. The peninsula of S.Ranieri had the function of container of industries and warehouses and the demolition of the fortification took place with different reasons until the end of the '60s. At the beginning of the new millennium was drafted by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, a project of restoration and reuse of the remnants. However prolonged use of highly polluting enterprises determined the need to clean up the entire area before being able to implement any initiative. The prospects of development of the area are faced with a political action which is, sometimes, inconsistent.