“蕪(wu)湖古城”位(wei)于(yu)蕪(wu)湖市南部,地處鏡湖區環城北路、環城東路、沿(yan)河路、九(jiu)華中(zhong)路圍合的區域,面(mian)積約(yue)30公頃。在長期的歷史發(fa)(fa)展過(guo)程中(zhong),以徽商文化(hua)(hua)為(wei)主、多(duo)種文化(hua)(hua)匯(hui)交,以及悠(you)久的歷史積淀(dian),蕪(wu)湖人民(min)創(chuang)造(zao)了(le)獨具特色(se)的燦爛文化(hua)(hua)--青(qing)弋(yi)江文化(hua)(hua),形成(cheng)并發(fa)(fa)展了(le)自己的宗教信仰和風俗(su)習慣(guan)。在這(zhe)里,全國較為(wei)古老的城隍廟現仍(reng)香(xiang)火興旺,建于(yu)宋朝(chao)的“縣學學宮”—大成(cheng)殿至今仍(reng)保存完好。
弋(yi)江經(jing)理部坐(zuo)落在南正街北端東向,位居古城西(xi)南隅,面(mian)闊三間7.06米,兩進(jin)加天井14.60米,建筑占(zhan)地面(mian)積103平(ping)方米。該建筑坐(zuo)東朝西(xi),磚木(mu)(mu)結構,硬(ying)山屋(wu)頂,現蓋機制平(ping)瓦,抬梁、穿斗兩式(shi)并(bing)用式(shi)梁架,材料、做工、裝飾都較考究,矮窗、撐拱雕刻十分精美。一(yi)樓(lou)水泥地坪,二樓(lou)木(mu)(mu)地板。弋(yi)江經(jing)理部是當年(nian)古城內一(yi)處重要的商(shang)鋪,是蕪湖歷(li)史(shi)上商(shang)業(ye)繁榮的見證。
望火臺(tai)坐落在環城南(nan)路中部56號(hao)。該建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)始建(jian)(jian)(jian)于民國時期,屬于公共建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),本體(ti)平面(mian)規則,長方形(xing),東西長4.38米(mi)(mi),南(nan)北寬8.50米(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積(ji)(ji)37.23平方木,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面(mian)18.12米(mi)(mi),進(jin)深11.17米(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積(ji)(ji)202.40平方米(mi)(mi)。磚混(hun)結構,立面(mian)為三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),總高為積(ji)(ji)84.32平方米(mi)(mi),總的面(mian)闊13.26米(mi)(mi),其(qi)(qi)中第二層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)是(shi)水泥平頂,四(si)檐有(you)(you)水泥欄板(ban)圍護,第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)是(shi)一個方形(xing)樓(lou)(lou)閣(ge),四(si)阿頂,脊為水泥澆注。墻(qiang)體(ti)用青磚扁砌(qi),實(shi)心,外粉(fen)沙(sha)灰。每層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)都開有(you)(you)窗戶,二層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)平頂向(xiang)外挑(tiao)出(chu)三線,閣(ge)樓(lou)(lou)四(si)檐有(you)(you)封沿板(ban),東西兩(liang)向(xiang)開有(you)(you)門(men),磚砌(qi)外挑(tiao)券式門(men)罩。該建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)造型特別,尤其(qi)(qi)是(shi)樓(lou)(lou)閣(ge)的屋頂式樣,是(shi)蕪湖現存歷(li)史建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)中僅有(you)(you)的一例,具有(you)(you)較高的研究參考價(jia)值(zhi)。
大(da)清(qing)監(jian)獄的(de)(de)(de)沿革:光(guang)緒(xu)五年(nian)(nian),蕪湖(hu)知縣屈(qu)承(cheng)福在(zai)老城廂建造監(jian)獄,當時(shi)稱蕪湖(hu)官(guan)牢,后來稱為(wei)舊監(jian),光(guang)緒(xu)三(san)(san)十(shi)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)知縣沈(shen)寶(bao)琛(chēn)重(zhong)修于縣署后方,在(zai)它的(de)(de)(de)西北部(bu)增造三(san)(san)重(zhong)平房(fang),作為(wei)官(guan)牢各科的(de)(de)(de)辦(ban)公室,宣統(tong)二(er)年(nian)(nian)也就是(shi)公元1910年(nian)(nian),官(guan)牢改辦(ban)習藝所。蕪湖(hu)知縣隸屬蕪湖(hu)道(dao)臺(tai),蕪湖(hu)道(dao)臺(tai)管轄皖南(nan)一(yi)片。光(guang)緒(xu)三(san)(san)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(1905年(nian)(nian)),蕪湖(hu)關道(dao)童德璋在(zai)原蕪湖(hu)官(guan)牢的(de)(de)(de)基礎(chu)上開辟大(da)清(qing)新式監(jian)獄,童德璋分離看守(shou)所,合(he)并了原男所、女所,實際就是(shi)沈(shen)寶(bao)琛的(de)(de)(de)監(jian)獄。由此蕪湖(hu)大(da)清(qing)監(jian)獄可(ke)以追溯到光(guang)緒(xu)五年(nian)(nian)(1879年(nian)(nian)),跨越了三(san)(san)個世紀。大(da)清(qing)監(jian)獄與縣衙近而不(bu)鄰,同受明清(qing)城墻庇護。
大清(qing)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)古城(cheng)的有機組成(cheng),彰顯(xian)了古代司(si)法向(xiang)近現代的過渡。大清(qing)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)在解放后是蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)公安局的六(liu)科(ke)、七科(ke),到七十年代,省一監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)和少管所先(xian)后北遷,蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)汽車發動機廠接用。從當時來講,蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)的模(mo)(mo)(mo)范(fan)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)只是皖(wan)南(nan)(nan)片的監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu),南(nan)(nan)京老虎橋監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是江南(nan)(nan)模(mo)(mo)(mo)范(fan)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu),兩者猶如(ru)父子。安慶的鷺鷥橋監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是民(min)國皖(wan)省第一監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu),蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)屈居二監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。南(nan)(nan)京拆毀(hui)老虎橋監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu),蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)大清(qing)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)躍升為(wei)古代監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)的絕版(ban)(ban),上海提藍橋監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是1935年才(cai)建成(cheng)如(ru)今的模(mo)(mo)(mo)樣,且已演變為(wei)公安博物館,淡化了監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)主題,東北旅(lv)順的日(ri)俄監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是外國在華監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu),重慶的渣滓洞集中(zhong)營是非司(si)法監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)。蕪(wu)湖(hu)(hu)監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是原(yuan)版(ban)(ban)的晚清(qing)建筑,附(fu)麗著監(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)獄(yu)(yu)是司(si)法工具的本(ben)義。
蕪湖(hu)早在(zai)公(gong)元(yuan)前109年(nian)就(jiu)已(yi)設縣。直到東(dong)漢末(mo)年(nian),魏(wei)、蜀、吳三(san)國(guo)鼎立,為拱衛都城(cheng)建鄴(今南(nan)京)的(de)(de)安全,孫權于黃武(wu)二年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)223年(nian)),將蕪湖(hu)城(cheng)遷(qian)至縣內的(de)(de)雞毛山(shan)一帶,這(zhe)也是“蕪湖(hu)古城(cheng)”的(de)(de)雛(chu)形。
北宋(song)(song)政和年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(公元(yuan)1111-1115年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蕪(wu)湖建(jian)造了宋(song)(song)城(cheng)(cheng)。自(zi)宋(song)(song)以后,元(yuan)、明(ming)(ming)、清至民(min)國700余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),“蕪(wu)湖古城(cheng)(cheng)”因戰火又屢遭(zao)焚毀,多(duo)(duo)次原(yuan)址重(zhong)建(jian)。明(ming)(ming)神宗萬歷三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)1575年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重(zhong)新(xin)建(jian)造了“蕪(wu)湖古城(cheng)(cheng)”。清順治十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1658年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))在明(ming)(ming)代城(cheng)(cheng)基(ji)上重(zhong)修,劃長街于(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)。至光緒二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),蕪(wu)湖辟為通商(shang)口岸(an),將殘破的(de)城(cheng)(cheng)垣拓為環城(cheng)(cheng)馬(ma)路。城(cheng)(cheng)內主要由花街、南正街、薪(xin)市街、儒林街和肖家巷等歷史街區構成,街兩(liang)旁店(dian)鋪林立(li),多(duo)(duo)為兩(liang)層磚(zhuan)木結構的(de)樓(lou)房,呈(cheng)徽(hui)派民(min)居(ju)風(feng)格(ge)。
由于蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)城(cheng)位(wei)于長江和青弋(yi)江的(de)(de)(de)交(jiao)匯處(chu),在以(yi)農(nong)業為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)導(dao)產業、以(yi)水運(yun)為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)要運(yun)輸(shu)方(fang)式的(de)(de)(de)時代,依(yi)托長江黃金水道和沿(yan)(yan)青弋(yi)江的(de)(de)(de)皖南農(nong)作區的(de)(de)(de)廣闊腹地(di),蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)城(cheng)在唐宋時期得以(yi)生(sheng)存、發展并壯大。明(ming)清(qing)時期,尤其是1876年(nian)蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)開埠通商后(hou),以(yi)李鴻章(zhang)家族為(wei)(wei)背景的(de)(de)(de)“蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)米市”的(de)(de)(de)興起,外(wai)來文化和蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)的(de)(de)(de)社(she)會經濟(ji)迅(xun)(xun)速交(jiao)融(rong),進一步發展,使(shi)得蕪(wu)(wu)(wu)湖(hu)城(cheng)迅(xun)(xun)速擴張(zhang),成為(wei)(wei)安徽沿(yan)(yan)江地(di)區繁華的(de)(de)(de)城(cheng)市之一。
“蕪湖(hu)古城(cheng)”內保留(liu)著大量的(de)歷(li)史信息,有行(xing)(xing)政、軍(jun)事(shi)、司法、官府、教育、宗教、書院、商業等,建制十分完整(zheng),又體(ti)現了蕪湖(hu)水(shui)陸交(jiao)通和商貿的(de)特色,雖然在明末和太平(ping)天國時期多次經歷(li)兵燹(xian)戰火,但(dan)是(shi)始終保留(liu)著的(de)完整(zheng)的(de)布局,行(xing)(xing)政、軍(jun)事(shi)、司法、宗教等一應(ying)俱全。
2022年8月,蕪(wu)湖(hu)市蕪(wu)湖(hu)古(gu)城被(bei)確定為第二(er)批國家(jia)級夜間文化和旅(lv)游(you)消費集聚區。
2023年4月,擬認定為國(guo)家3A級旅游景區。