Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar

Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: – Western is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising six bastion forts constructed by the Republic of Venice in its mainland territories () and maritime domains ().

With the increase in firearm warfare in the early modern period of gunpowder when the cannon came to dominate the battlefield, came significant shifts in military strategy and fort design. One of these changes was the development of the bastion fort, or fortifications, with a polygon-shaped fortress with bulwarks at the corners. These designs originated from the Republic of Venice, but would soon spread throughout Europe and remain the standard for defence until the 19th century. In 2017, six of these fortifications in Italy, Croatia, and Montenegro were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. These six sites provide quintessential examples of this fort design, demonstrate the influence of Renaissance-era Venice, and pay testimony to a major advancement in the history of warfare.

The heritage sites

The sites that make up the World Heritage site demonstrate the breadth of the architectural styles and fortresses employed by the Venetians. Built in the 15th century, the fortified town of Kotor is the oldest site, displaying a transitional period between traditional fortress design and alla moderna design. In the 16th century, the fortifications in Bergamo and the Fort of St. Nikola were built, showing the addition of a more complex and centralized system of bastions, walls, and moats. The defences at Zadar, Peschiera del Garda, and Palmanova were completed in the 17th century. Site Image Location Fortified City of Bergamo ItaBergamo, Lombardy, Italy Fortified City of Peschiera del Garda ItaPeschiera del Garda, Veneto, Italy City Fortress of Palmanova ItaPalmanova, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy Defensive System of Zadar CroZadar, Zadar County, Croatia Fort of St. Nikola, Šibenik-Knin County CroŠibenik, Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia Fortified City of Kotor MonKotor Municipality, Montenegro

References

See also Bastion fort