The fort of Vigliena is a national monument of which only a few remains remain today. The historic building is located either in the district of San Giovanni a Teduccio, in via Marina dei Gigli, former stradone Vigliena.
Of what was once a castle, today only a few remains are visible.
Its construction dates back to the beginning of the XVIII century, probably around 1706, at the behest of the then Viceroy Juan Manuel Fernández Pacheco y Zúñiga, Marquis of Villena, from whom it also took its name.Only six metres high to avoid bombardment from the sea, pentagonal in shape, and surrounded by a moat nine metres wide and five metres deep, it was designed in such a way as to ensure the defence of the port of Naples with its cannons. Except for the Vesuvian stone frame that crowned the curtain between the two lateral bastions, the fortress was entirely made of tuff.
The fort was partially destroyed during the conflict between the supporters of the Parthenopean Republic and the Sanfedist forces of Cardinal Ruffo on 13 June 1799. The former, in defence of the structure, when they were surrounded and unable to escape, decided to blow up the arsenal to cause the most damage in the ranks of the opposite faction.
Thus, the fortress was abandoned until, in 1891, thanks to the initiative of parliamentarians Imbriani and Villari, it was declared a National Monument and restored. However, in 1906, a part of it was demolished to make way for the military bakery.
