Saturday, 11 July 2015

Palmanova - A Venetian Fortress (Italy)

Palmanova was built in 1593 by the Republic of Venice as planned city. It is one of the best preserved examples of late Renaissance military architecture, as its star shape remained until today.

The Republic of Venice existed between the 7th century until 1797. It was an maritime and trading power centred in Northeastern Italy. Its capital was Venice. Today its territories are located in Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine.

The Fortress Town of Palmanova was built in a time when the Turkish hordes ruled on the Balkans. The Fortress of Gradisca, which earlier secured the eastern borders of the republic, was taken over by Austria in 1500. Because of this new dangers from the Turkish hordes and the Austrian Empire the government decided to built a new fortress at the junction of important trading routes. The Republic of Venice planned to develop Palmanova to the most important inland base of its troops, but that never happened. In 1797 the fortress was conquered by the French troops under Napoleon, who later gave it to Austria. The surrender of the Republic of Venice in this war against Napoleon was signed in the city. Between 1806 and 1814 it was a part of the Kingdom of Italy. After Napoleon's fall it remained a part of the Hapsburg Empire until it became a part of Italy in 1866. 


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