Forte Spagnolo (Italian for Spanish Fortress) was built in L’Aquila from 1534-1567 and was designed to control the then rebellious city which many of its cannons were pointed towards.
Towards the end of the 15th century L’Aquila had managed to become of the most powerful cities in the Kingdom of Naples. Its fortune took a turn for the worse however, when the Aquilans sided with the French for Louis XII’s claim on Naples (and Milan). When the Spanish finally subdued the Aquilan rebels in 1528, they ordered the construction of a [fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_Spagnolo,_L%27Aquila). The heavy taxation over the next 3 decades to fund the construction would ultimately impoverish the city.
Its cannons, always ready to fire, were silent throughout the centuries, the only victim being the city itself.
Divirex says
Towards the end of the 15th century L’Aquila had managed to become of the most powerful cities in the Kingdom of Naples. Its fortune took a turn for the worse however, when the Aquilans sided with the French for Louis XII’s claim on Naples (and Milan). When the Spanish finally subdued the Aquilan rebels in 1528, they ordered the construction of a [fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forte_Spagnolo,_L%27Aquila). The heavy taxation over the next 3 decades to fund the construction would ultimately impoverish the city.
Its cannons, always ready to fire, were silent throughout the centuries, the only victim being the city itself.