Cittadella Nuova e Giardino Scotto (con Torre Guelfa)

The Cittadella Nuova and Giardino Scotto occupy a fortified block on Pisa's southern Lungarno. The walls preserve successive phases of Florentine military rule; within them, the former Scotto garden forms a green space along the Arno.

Why it matters

The fortress records Pisa's contested relationship with Florence. The original Cittadella was built during the first period of Florentine rule, then damaged during the Pisan revolt of 1495 and adapted for artillery in the early sixteenth century. Later, the Scotto family transformed part of the site into a garden, which was eventually given to the city.

What to notice

The fifteenth-century phase survives in two semicircular towers and a stretch of western wall with a sloping stone scarp. The later fortifications reflect the shift toward gunpowder warfare. The Torre Guelfa, rebuilt after wartime destruction in 1944, stands near the Arno. Mature trees and lawns now occupy the area enclosed by the ramparts.

Context and history

Florence built the Cittadella between 1440 and 1475. Following its partial destruction in 1495, Antonio da Sangallo oversaw reconstruction between 1509 and 1512, including a new bastion on the river side. The fortress was dismantled in 1785 and replaced by a residence associated with Domenico Scotto, whose family created the garden. The last heirs later donated the park to the city; the palace served as the Regia Questura from 1936.