These barracks form part of the defensive Quadrilatero of Borgoforte-Motteggiana-Rocchetta-Boccadiganda, a core component of the double bridgehead constructed by the Austrians for defence purposes around 1850. The fort is one of the few Austrian fortifications still standing in the Mantua area. It is a big Y-shaped building constructed with large solid bricks and covers an area of approximately 1000 square metres.