Published
[Original article: https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/en/borgo/palmanova/]
Palmanova, situated in the lowland of Friuli Venezia Giulia between Udine and Aquileia, is a fortress-city, built by the Republic Of Venice. It was based on a precise planning idea, elaborated by a group of engineers who operated at the Office of Fortifications under the guide of the General Supervisor Giulio Savorgnan.
To reinforce the defense on the Friuli territory against the raids of the Turks and expansionist aims of the Asburgo family, Venice decided to build the new royal fortress in the middle of the Friulian plain, a perfect example of modern-like late Renaissance fortifications. The founding date goes back to the 7th of October 1593.
Nothing was left to chance in building the rising Palmanova.
First, the date of the beginning of the building works - 7th of October - was chosen on purpose. In fact, on the same day, 22 years ago, the Republic of Venice had beaten the Ottoman empire during an epic navy battle.
Secondly, the initial project was brought up to Leonardo Da Vinci but he eventually turned down the offer for work commitments he already had in Milan.
Lastly, not even the structure was left to chance. It was necessary to build something unique, with geometric and mathematical perfection that would be unrivalled: a city shaped like a nine-point-star.
A city in the shape of a nine-pointed star: the starry city. Palmanova represents one of the most successful and unique masterpieces of Venetian military architecture with its star-shaped plan formed by the two defensive orders of bastions and ravelins and the third, the most external with lunettes, added by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century.
In 1960 the fortress was declared a National Monument and on 9 July 2017 it became part of the Unesco World Heritage.
Palmanova represents one of the most successful models of an "ideal fortress city" actually built: a real jewel for architecture enthusiasts, military but not only. Its star shape, with nine identical points, is a perfectly symmetrical urban structure.
Two defensive lines were built consisting of terrepleins supported by stones and bricks. The structure, designed and then built with great engineering skill, consisted of bulwarks (or bastions), curtain walls, faussebrayes and ravelins. Among these is a moat and a network of underground tunnels that allowed troops to move between the various lines.
[Original article: https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/en/borgo/palmanova/]
Palmanova, situated in the lowland of Friuli Venezia Giulia between Udine and Aquileia, is a fortress-city, built by the Republic Of Venice. It was based on a precise planning idea, elaborated by a group of engineers who operated at the Office of Fortifications under the guide of the General Supervisor Giulio Savorgnan.
To reinforce the defense on the Friuli territory against the raids of the Turks and expansionist aims of the Asburgo family, Venice decided to build the new royal fortress in the middle of the Friulian plain, a perfect example of modern-like late Renaissance fortifications. The founding date goes back to the 7th of October 1593.
Nothing was left to chance in building the rising Palmanova.
First, the date of the beginning of the building works - 7th of October - was chosen on purpose. In fact, on the same day, 22 years ago, the Republic of Venice had beaten the Ottoman empire during an epic navy battle.
Secondly, the initial project was brought up to Leonardo Da Vinci but he eventually turned down the offer for work commitments he already had in Milan.
Lastly, not even the structure was left to chance. It was necessary to build something unique, with geometric and mathematical perfection that would be unrivalled: a city shaped like a nine-point-star.
A city in the shape of a nine-pointed star: the starry city. Palmanova represents one of the most successful and unique masterpieces of Venetian military architecture with its star-shaped plan formed by the two defensive orders of bastions and ravelins and the third, the most external with lunettes, added by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century.
In 1960 the fortress was declared a National Monument and on 9 July 2017 it became part of the Unesco World Heritage.
Palmanova represents one of the most successful models of an "ideal fortress city" actually built: a real jewel for architecture enthusiasts, military but not only. Its star shape, with nine identical points, is a perfectly symmetrical urban structure.
Two defensive lines were built consisting of terrepleins supported by stones and bricks. The structure, designed and then built with great engineering skill, consisted of bulwarks (or bastions), curtain walls, faussebrayes and ravelins. Among these is a moat and a network of underground tunnels that allowed troops to move between the various lines.
[Original article: https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/en/borgo/palmanova/]
