Museo dell'intreccio mediterraneo di Castelsardo

On 2 October 1448 Castelgenovese officially passed under the dominion of the Catalan crown and was renamed (from 1528) Castel Aragonese. The fortress became an important Mediterranean stronghold against enemy attacks and raids, naturally protected by the coastal headland and rendered more secure by small improvements made by its rulers.

Between 1500 and 1600 Sardinia had a key role in the dramatic warlike events that took place between Spain and France, along with its Turkish and Barberian allies, responsible for much devastation and looting of island coastal territories in that period. Hence, the main Sardinian fortifications, Castelsardo, Cagliari and Alghero were fitted out with bastions and defensive towers. Numerous requests for assistance and maintenance of the castle were made.

In 1625 the Viceroy Don Juan Vivas visited the castle and wrote a report for the King in which he reported the need for maintenance and the building of new constructions, such as cisterns, to defend against enemy attacks. The works had still not been carried out when he died.

In 1643 the city of Castelaragonese still strongly felt the necessity to restore the ancient Dorian walls and build new defensive earthworks, but the complaints and requests were to persist in vain until the end of 1600. After a long period without conflict, in 1717 Castelaragonese, which had been in Austrian hands since 1708, became the scene of a Spanish siege for its reconquest and new defensive ramparts were built.