The city of Volterra in Tuscany still preserves almost all its medieval walls, built from 1260 to 1266, which incorporated the south-eastern side of the oldest walls of the 4th-century BC. In 1472, following the definitive loss of the city's independence, the Florentine occupation government decided to build a great fortress, designed by Francione, which represents a worthy example of military architecture of the second half of the 15th-century. From 1545 to 1551, the urban defenses of the northern side were reinforced with the construction of a new bastion near the “Porta Fiorentina”, designed by Giovan Battista Bellucci. The Florentine Fortress and the bastion represent the only two known examples of military architecture built in Volterra during the Modern Age. Some studies carried out within the activities of the “Laboratorio Universitario Volterrano” of the University of Pisa, have highlighted the presence of widespread strengthening interventions along all the northern side of the medieval walls starting from the mid-16th-century. Based on these studies, this research aims to demonstrate the existence of a coherent project of fortification, which led to the realization of a new complete bastioned front along the northern side of the walls between the 16th and the 17th-century.
Modern Age Fortification of the Medieval City Walls of Volterra, Tuscany
Bevilacqua Marco Giorgio
Primo
;
2018-01-01
Abstract
The city of Volterra in Tuscany still preserves almost all its medieval walls, built from 1260 to 1266, which incorporated the south-eastern side of the oldest walls of the 4th-century BC. In 1472, following the definitive loss of the city's independence, the Florentine occupation government decided to build a great fortress, designed by Francione, which represents a worthy example of military architecture of the second half of the 15th-century. From 1545 to 1551, the urban defenses of the northern side were reinforced with the construction of a new bastion near the “Porta Fiorentina”, designed by Giovan Battista Bellucci. The Florentine Fortress and the bastion represent the only two known examples of military architecture built in Volterra during the Modern Age. Some studies carried out within the activities of the “Laboratorio Universitario Volterrano” of the University of Pisa, have highlighted the presence of widespread strengthening interventions along all the northern side of the medieval walls starting from the mid-16th-century. Based on these studies, this research aims to demonstrate the existence of a coherent project of fortification, which led to the realization of a new complete bastioned front along the northern side of the walls between the 16th and the 17th-century.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
