The Forts of Campo Calabro are a complex of fortifications dating back to the 19th century, located in the city of Campo Calabro, in the province of Reggio Calabria. Their architectural structure is characterized by elements of neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance style, which integrated with the military needs of the time. The blockhouses are made up of four main towers, each with its own specific function:

•  The Governor's Tower, the largest and most impressive, was used as the residence of the commander of the troops. 
• The Barracks Tower, located next to the Governor's Tower, housed the troops and their quarters. 
• The Clock Tower, with its characteristic fishtail shape, housed the public clock and bells. 
• The Torre della Punta, located at the opposite end of the complex, was used as an observation and defense point.

Military function

Each tower has a rectangular-based structure, with thick walls and small, narrow windows. The Governor's Tower is the most decorated, with neo-Renaissance style elements, while the other towers feature neo-Gothic style elements. 

The architectural structure of the Campo Calabro Forts was designed to offer maximum protection to the troops and the population, through the creation of a series of observation and defense posts. Furthermore, the strategic position of the complex, located on top of a hill, offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding plain. 

In summary, the Forts of Campo Calabro are a complex of fortifications of historical-architectural interest, characterized by a mixed architectural structure of neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles.

The Forts of Pentimele are located in a panoramic position over the city of Reggio Calabria and dominant over the Strait of Messina. They stand on the Pentimele hill and their origins date back to 1547, the year in which, due to various raids by pirates, the construction of a castle was ordered. The Pentimele forts were built around 1896 as shown by a document in the State Archives of Reggio Calabria.

The place, after having been in a state of decay for years, has recently been the subject of a restoration and redevelopment process.

The two forts of Pentimele, identical in every form, distinguished by the names Batteria Pentimele nord (North) and Batteria Pellizzeri (South), are built with natural stones and bricks which also frame the windows and the tops of the surrounding wall. The North fort also has a drawbridge and has two columns covered in sandstone limestone at its entrance.

Upon entering there are four cisterns on the left used to collect water and, also on the left, there were the accommodation equipped with a bathroom and stables for the officers. On the sides there were the soldiers' dormitories and, in the innermost place, two rooms (on each side) used for storing weapons.

There are two holes in the ceiling that allowed the passage of weapons to the upper floor, where there was a room that served as storage. On the right side, however, we find a staircase that leads to a room under the entrance area, from which the opening of the drawbridge was carried out. The prisoners were thrown into the lower floor and guarded from the upper floor. Along the wall of the two internal corridors there are two small windows from which one could control the outside of the fort and notice any enemy invasion. The central area of ​​the forts consists of four ramps, from here the cannons were transported. In the center of the upper floor there was the storage of artillery material and the maintenance of the cannons was taken care of.

History

The Arghilla's forts are a series of coastal fortifications located along the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, precisely in the municipality of Scilla in the province of Reggio Calabria. These ancient forts were built in the 17th century in order to defend the coast from pirates and enemy raids. They stand on imposing rocky promontories and they offer breathtaking views of the sea and the Strait of Messina. Today they are a popular tourist attractions, with visitors venturing out to explore the ruins of the old fortifications and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

These forts are also rich in cultural charm and offer a window into the region's military past, as well as being set in stunning natural surroundings. The Arghillà's Forts have an architectural structure typical of 17th century coastal forts, built mainly in local stone, with thick and robust walls designed to resist enemy attacks and bad weather. The layout of the forts follows the natural profile of the rocky promontories on which they are built, with walls that follow the lines of the terrain and bastions strategically positioned to maximize defense and observation of the sea. Inside the forts, there are various rooms and environments intended for the accommodation of soldiers, weapons depots and defense rooms. Fortifications are often equipped with watchtowers and cannons, which once provided panoramic views and the ability to repel enemy attacks. Unfortunately today, many parts of the structures are in ruins.

Ecolandia

In the years 2000-2002, in implementation of a project financed by the URBAN Program of Reggio Calabria, the Gullì Fort of Arghillá was incorporated into the area of ​​the Ecolandia Environmental Technological Play Park, which extends over an area of ​​approximately 10 hectares. Only in the summer of 2012, after approximately 10 years in which it remained closed and unused, the Park was entrusted to the management of the Ecolandia scrl Consortium with the task of activating all the actions necessary for the complete implementation and necessary restoration interventions of the park.