University of Udine PALMANOVA THE WALLS OF PALMANOVA Contributing to planned maintenance Alessandra Biasi
This is an aerial view of the City of Palmanova. As it s shown it is clear that the construction is made as a star-shape. The fortress was founded by the Republic of Venice in 1593 in defence of Turkish threat of the eastern boundaries. It is located in the centre of the Friulana plain now the territory of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region
Sforzinda Nicosia Hellevoetsluis The fortress plant, designed for defensive purposes, it is based on the ideal Renaissance model. A significant example of this is the plan of the city of Sforzinda, created by Arch. Filarete (1451-1464). Below we see other examples of cities built according to ideal models: Nicosia and Hellevoetsluis. Next is the geometric construction of the Palmanova site. As you can see each element was built according to a rigorous geometric and mathematical calculation.
The first fortified wall The second wall The third wall Dating back to 7 th October 1593, the Republic of Venice started the construction of the first enclosure, built between 1593 and 1613. This fortified wall, like the next two, was made up by jacket embankments (externally coated) stone-masonry and bricks that we analyse below. Following the construction of the first fortified wall, between 1658 and 1671, the Venetians started to build the 2 nd which protect the fortress doors. This fortified wall consists of raveline (always made of full-earth). During the Napoleonic period (1797-1814) the third fortified circle was created, the first to be seen by the visitor coming from outside. This final wall consists of a nine-lunette systems placed in axis with the bastions, in order to make the fortress more secure.
The first wall has a polygonal fence (it stems originate from Nonagon) the top is reinforced by bastions which have the task to help each other (protect themselves) by two to two. The bastions are interconnected by barriers which corresponds to the polygon side. The structure is protected by a wide ditch and is run all along the perimeter road. To enter the city one has to go through the three doors located in the central part of the barrier.
We examine now the masonry wall especially what the stone elements consists of. Here you can see some images of the wall, as I have already underlined the embankments are masonry. Examine the bottom of the stone base and the brick overlay. The entire wall system has this wall articulation
Here are shown the construction techniques of masonry. Its elements are highlighted: foundations, foundation bend and the brick barrier. The results gathered are from the study of the documents. We talk about the reports of the Provveditori Veneti, engineers that work in The Head Office of construction of the site. The shape and dimensions of the individual elements documented by the sources have been checked (the unit of measurement is the Venetian foot of 35 cm). In section besides the outside trim, you can see the core of the masonry and the socalled nails welding to this.
TORREANO QUARRIES UDINE CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI PALMANOVA STRASSOLDO MANZANO MEDEA CERVIGNANO DEL FRIULI MONFALCONE DUINO AURISINA Golfo di Trieste Moving by land Moving by sea This is a significant image summing up unreleased information relating to the stone materials used during the construction of the first enclosure. The source sites can be seen and how the raw material were moved from the extraction area of the Palmanova site (via sea and via land). From the resources (as shown in the picture) we know that part of the stones came from the quarries of Monfalcone, Aurisina, Duino, and also from the gulf of Trieste area, they were transported (by sea and river), to Cervignano del Friuli and Strassoldo and then delivered to Palmanova site. From Medea, Manzano, Cividale del Friuli, Torreano other kind of stones were transported to the Palmanova site. These kind of stones were also used to make a lime; a stone furnace was constructed to produce lime nearby the site.
Stones of Monfalcone, Duino, Cividale del Friuli Stones of Medea Stones of Istria This picture identifies which kind of stone are in the barrier. In green colour is shown the masonry stone of Istria which constructs the door. In pink is shown the stone wall of Medea, which refers to underneath the door. In light blue is shown the composite wall (various kind of stones) which is made both of Monfalcone, Duino and Cividale del Friuli s stones, referring to the base of the curtain. Curb and nails were made in stone and came from Manzano.
We are now analyzing the stone materials. This picture shows a part of the face position and the map of the raw materials. This identifies the raw materials which have been used: base, curb, upper curb, nails, plate. The foundation is made of stone from Monfalcone, Duino and Cividale del Friuli; the curb, is made of stone from Monfalcone, Duino and Cividale del Friuli; the stone curb, is made of stone from Aurisina; stone nails, are from Monfalcone, Duino and Cividale del Friuli; the plate, is made of Istria stone. The date of commissioning is refers to the date created beginning 1600. The average size of manufacture of the stone blocks varies from 50 to 100 cm. of length and 20 to 60 cm. of depth.
After the examination of the stones we investigated the decay. The stones are affected by different kinds of decay, the map reports the symbols of decay. The kinds of decay are as follow black crusts, surface deposition, disjointing, erosion, exfoliation, cracking, holes, film, shelling, evidence of vegetation, cohesiveness. The study of decay are reported individually for causes and intensity. So erosion, shelling and cohesiveness represent the most widespread of the decay on the site.
TYPES OF THE DECAY URGENCY OF INTERVENTIONS Cracking Exfoliation Erosion Holes Vegetation Urgency Low urgency The image highlights the types of the decay identified throughout the system and the priorities (urgency) of interventions.
For each kind of decay, a measure has been targeted to prevent or minimize further decays in agreement with the Head of Soprintendenza of Udine (Fine Arts and Landscape of Friuli Venezia Giulia). The restoration measures are shown by a theme and a symbol. In particular the measures are classified with the following acronyms: OP for Preparatory Works; IS for structural interventions, P for cleaning, C for Consolidation, PR for Protection. Based on the results in cooperation with the Soprintendenza di Udine, the University of Udine is working on the guidelines of measures taken on the walls of Palmanova. In the short term the guidelines will be published.