The fortress of Santa Maria a Belvedere, was realized between 1590 and 1595 by the architett Bernardo Buontalenti committed by the Great Duke Ferdinando I de ' Medici, son of Cosimo. In reality the fortress never had a real martial meaning. Could just be a defence agaist people instead a real regular and organized army. The only efficient defence it had, were the cannons located closed by the unique entrance to the fortress. The white house at the top, was built with the intention to accommodate the prince in case of a besiege of the entire city The only time it was really used was in XVII century when the pest attacked the city and prince ' s family lived there. Every day a cannon at 12:00 pm was shooting to annunce time to the city. The fortress is reachable from Pitti palace trough boboli garden in a few minutes. You can also arrive from Porta S. Giorgio and you will have a marvellous panorama of the city.