FORTMED2024 - Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean
“Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean” (volumes XVI and XVII) is the continuation of a series of publications that highlight the latest research on the fortifications of the Mediterranean region. These contributions were gathered in the seventh edition of the international conference Fortifications of the Mediterranean Coast, FORTMED 2024, hosted by Universiteti Politeknik i Tiranës in Tirana, Albania on April 18, 19, and 20, 2024.
The series 'Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean' aims to share knowledge about the historical and current state of military architecture along the Mediterranean coast, including structures built overseas that are influenced by those in the Mediterranean.
The conference and the 17 published volumes of the series have demonstrated to be the most persistent and serious effort in researching and documenting military architecture in the Mediterranean over the last decade.
URI permanente para esta colecciónhttps://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/208680
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Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , La rocca di Staggia Senese: una metodologia applicata nell’ambito del recupero architettonico e funzionale(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Taddei, Domenico; Calvani, Caterina; Taddei, Antonio; Martini, Andrea[EN] At the gates of Chianti, on the Via Francigena, on the border between Florence and Siena, the fortress rises alongside the walled land of Staggia Senese. In documents it is named palàtium or rocca di staja. The term palàtium indicates large stately buildings within a fortified structure. The word rocca refers to a fortification with a garrison, in fact Staggia takes its name from the military stronghold wanted by the Florentine Republic. The name staja recovers the toponym of the market present in the small village, as a center for the production of cereals, products that were weighed with the unit of measurement called stajo. The interventions to create the “museum of itself” concern architectural, structural and functional recovery, with the aim of preserving the identity of the fortification. The studies carried out during and after the works, such as the analyzes of the walls of the village and the verification of a probable intervention by Brunelleschi, will constitute the basis for further research, a methodology applied in the field of restoration, where knowledge becomes synonymous with safeguard.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , La Cittadella di Mondovì (Cuneo): testimonianze superstiti e nuovi documenti(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Cattaneo, Maria Vittoria[EN] In Mondovì Piazza (the higher part of the city near Cuneo) the Citadel is an example of fortification from the Sixteenth century that can still be recognized nowadays; inside it the transformations that were realized during the following centuries can still be identified too. It was realized by Ferrante Vitelli, general superintendent of the fortresses, on behalf of the duke Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia from 1573. Its construction entailed the demolition and the incorporation of the pre-existing buildings, among whom the San Donato Cathedral, that was transformed in knight. While the shape of the perimeter of the Citadel was little changed during the following centuries and is easily recognized in the higher part of Mondovì Piazza, the buildings inside it were heavily modified, until they reached their current forms. The recent finding of archive documents led to certify the intervention of the First Ducal Engineer Amedeo di Castellamonte who, between 1675 and 1682, worked on the enlargement and restructuring of the pre-existing architectures on behalf of the second Madama Reale, Maria Giovanna Battista di Savoia-Nemours. The transformations realized according to the design of Castellamonte, that heavily affected the Citadel designed by Vitelli, can still be recognized and find their confirmation in a rich iconography only partially known, that can now lead to new and original interpretations.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Guardians of Heritage: The Fortifications of the Moroccan Amazigh Atlas Region(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Tifawt, Loudaoui[EN] The collective granaries of the Anti-Atlas region in Morocco, known as Igoudar, as well as the Ksour and Kasbas of the High Atlas stand as architectural treasures deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of indigenous Amazigh communities more commonly known as Berbers. They serve a multifaceted purpose; preserving vital resources, providing adapted housing, and offering a stronghold during times of conflict or invasion. This paper explores their distinctive characteristics and cultural significance, showcasing the role they have played as protectors of the rich heritage within in the Atlas region. Additionally, it delves into the challenges they face in modern times and emphasizes the importance of preserving these structures as an integral part of our cultural heritage, ensuring that they endure as poignant symbols of the past for generations to come.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Teorie urbane, ingegneria militare ed utopia nelle città mediterranee del XVI° secolo. I casi di Sabbioneta e della Medina di Tripoli(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Micara, Ludovico[EN] Sabbioneta is one of the few new Italian cities created in the 16th century. Founded by Vespasiano Gonzaga (1531-1591) between 1560 and 1570, it brings together many of the aspects that will characterize the post-16th century urban development in Italy, in the Mediterranean countries, and in Europe. The new bastioned defensive systems, created after the invention of firearms based on the scientific logics of "military engineers", a professional category which emerged at that time, increasingly spread in the abovementioned countries. Such defensive technique introduced an innovative configuration of the urban structure compared to the ancient one, which was before concentrated on central places such as the square, the cathedral and the municipal buildings. The new defensive system, with its ramparts, bastions and moats was located at the border of the city, distant from central places and became so important as to radically change the shape and plan of the city. The new urban geometries could even evoke the pure, simple and regular shapes of the ideal cities conceived by utopian philosophers, which were generally represented as central forms, and symbolic expressions of Thomas More’s Utopia perfect society. But this historical reference just remains a theoretical one. Sabbioneta and other fortified cities in the Mediterranean world, like Tripoli’s Medina after the 16th century Spanish military intervention, are the expression of a new view of the city, in which the defensive aspect constitutes the dominant character due to the revolution of firearms.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Ricostruzione 3D del sito fortificato di Monte Croccia (Basilicata, Italia)(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-07-16) Delli Santi, Maurizio; Passarelli, Massimiliano[EN] The reconstruction work of the fortified site of Monte Croccia aims to create virtual models seeking a synthesis between technical restitution of the data and a naturalistic and evocative rendering of the archaeological context. In the case of the context presented in this work, we started from surveys already carried out in past excavations and from photographic shots taken on-site. As a first phase, the surveys were reworked and compared with the photographs, the most important information for the purposes of 3D modeling was recovered and new digital graphic supports were created which formed the basis of the work. In the second phase, after an accurate evaluation and interpretation of all the data available, with the new two-dimensional supports compatible with 3D modeling software, the volumetric models of the archaeological structures to be represented were created. Finally, these models were further processed with high-resolution textures for the final photo-realistic rendering.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Study and representation of the bastion of San Maurizio in Turin: an educational experience(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Vitali, Marco; Rodríguez-Navarro, Pablo; Spallone, Roberta; Russo, Michele; Verdiani, Giorgio; Natta, Fabrizio[EN] This paper presents the activity carried out as part of the Ph.D. program in Architectural and Landscape Heritage at the Politecnico di Torino entitled “An Integral Approach to the Study of Fortifications”. A survey was conducted on a still-existing seventeenth-century portion of the fortifications of the city. The course included the organization of a survey campaign that integrated TLS and photogrammetric techniques, an interesting field of application concerning the operational difficulties derived from the steep terrain and the important vegetation presence, which guided the choices and programming of the work. The interpretation and analysis phases led to digital representations at different scales, including some focus on the wall face apparatus, mapping of degradations, and identification of the mean plane of masonry and its deviations.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Virtual reconstruction of destroyed fortifications: the case study of Santa Caterina in Verona(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-07-16) Russo, Michele; Flenghi, Giulia; Buonacucina, Alessio; Russo, Valentina[EN] Military fortifications have always played a key role in territorial defense. Their location and visibility often depended on strategic military choices, such as shape. The geometric development of the latter is the result of centuries of refinement of construction techniques concerning the evolution of warfare, the architectural consistency of the fortified area, and adaptation to the orography of the territory. A final common aspect is their history, often marked by transformations that have determined the architecture's level of preservation and use. These architectures can be perfectly preserved, destroyed, or fallen into disuse. Of the latter, many examples are scattered throughout the territories, a fascinating constellation of vestiges that have lost their visibility and importance. The instruments of surveying, drawing, and representation can support the virtual rediscovery of the ancient role of architecture. This research project focuses on the Fort of Santa Caterina in Verona. Originally called Werk Hess, it is a fortification located south of Verona and built between 1848 and 1856. Only a few small traces remain today, but the Fort of Santa Caterina was an architecture of remarkable beauty because of its naturalistic and environmental inclusion, an architectural and perspective cornerstone of the fortified city due to its dominant position. Through a comprehensive course of source analysis, the survey of the existing territory, and representation in plan and space, the research project aims to give a virtual shape to this military marvel, laying the groundwork for more complex multi-disciplinary analyses of the artifact and the surrounding area.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Occupare lo spazio dentro la città fino alle mura: Oristano in alcuni documenti del primo Seicento(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-07-16) Mele, Maria Grazia Rosaria[EN] Through the state property concessions issued by the patrimonial offices of the Kingdom of Sardinia in the modern age we possess a very interesting picture of the settlement and monumental emergencies of the city of Oristano, capital of the Kingdom of Arborea in the Middle Ages and then simply royal city of the Hispanic Monarchy. The type of document lends itself easily to the reconstruction of the settlement experience through the type of property indicated and its boundaries (streets, squares, monuments, fortifications) and who lives there. In this essay we will examine the policy of patrimonial officials at the beginning of the 17th century regarding the land granted in emphyteusis near the walls, in a strip that normally had to be left free for military needs.State properties in the city and its territory were managed by the royal prosecutor, who had expertise in the patrimonial field. Between the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century, with the transformation of Oristano into a royal city, the city's emphyteutic concessions mostly concerned the intramural area surrounding the royal palace, indicating a clear desire to deconstruct the buildings and areas of the secular center of judge them and make them forget.Through the emphyteutic concessions of the early seventeenth century, however, the monarchy and the royal officials themselves were not interested in financing the maintenance work of the fortifications, allowing some private individuals to clutter the internal space close to the curtain wall, provided that they did not leave deteriorate the real estate entrusted to them but highlighting a patronage practice in the management of public affairs. At the same time, it was the citizens of Oristano themselves who, following a very widespread practice, exploited the spaces reserved for walkways without authorization or exploited the moat full of debris for their own gain.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Freehand draw and the study of military architecture(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Broglia, Francesco; Pucci, Mirco[EN] This paper aims at analysing medieval and Renaissance fortifications by freehand draw. Freehand draw has been used for this purpose since the so called ‘epoca della transizione’and its fortune reached its peak with the study of Renaissance fortifications (XV-XVI century).Physical survey by scale sketches and drawings is a technique of Italian and European Renaissance tradition. It is a fundamental first step in understanding buildings and how they were designed.This research took into consideration the following case studies: fortifications in the State of Presidii – on the border between Lazio and Tuscany -, fortifications of the Tuscan archipelago, fortresses and fortified surrounding walls in Emilia Romagna.Freehand draw allowed us to recognize on the one hand the geometrical matrixes of the shapes taken into consideration and on the other hand the relations between design principles - which inspired military architects - and the effective realizations.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Il campo trincerato di Portoferraio all’isola d’Elba prima dell’epoca francese e napoleonica(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Dalle Luche, Gian Lorenzo; Karwacka, Ewa Jolanta[EN] In our most recent topics we have explored the theme of the modern fortifications of the Island of Elba and more specifically of Portoferraio in the French period. Medici Portoferraio is well known and already widely documented, from its sixteenth-century foundation to the last eighteenth-century adjustments of the landward bastions of this formidable "war machine". Less known and yet to be explored further is the history of the fortified architecture of the period between the end of the Medici dynasty and the French occupation. Today, important unpublished iconographic documents allow us to fill this gap and fully understand the choices that Napoleon himself would then make on the defensive system of the main stronghold of the island.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Storia della Torre di San Giovanni Battista o Torre Scola vicino a Porto Venere, SP (Italia) e applicazione delle nuove tecnologie di rilevamento per la restituzione 3D e lo studio architettonico(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Frroku, Norbert; Lami, Alessandro; Xeka, Marsol[EN] The tower of St. John the Baptist, known as the Scola Tower, is a small fortification with a pentagonal plan, surrounded by the sea, built by the Republic of Genoa in 1606, above a rock (Scola in the local dialect), to defend the entrance of the Gulf of La Spezia, near the island of Palmaria in Porto Venere. In 1800 it was partially destroyed by gunfire from the British fleet, which penetrated the gulf, and after that it was abandoned. When its demolition was averted in 1915 (established by the Marina Militare), given its historical interest, it was decided to convert the tower to the function of a signal lighthouse. Between 1976 and 1980 the structure received radical restoration and consolidation of the perimeter walls. Of this turret on the water, some historical plans and photographs exist, but today thanks to modern surveying techniques, such as aerial photogrammetry with drones, it has been possible to accurately scan the structure despite the inaccessibility of its location. With this survey, it was possible to process a perfect digital twin of the building, which even made it possible to make scale replicas, thanks to 3D printing. Replicas that can be a very useful source of study or beautiful souvenirs. Also, thanks to the latest frontiers of technology, such as artificial intelligence, it has been possible to increase the quality of historical photographs. This as fascinating as it is melancholy isolated turret in the middle of the sea is becoming more and more famous and well known thanks to social networks and photos taken with drones, and it is poised to become a new destination and new symbol of tourism in Liguria.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Le fortificazioni di terra delle mura medievali di Pisa nel XVII secolo. Analisi tecnico-militare del progetto di Gabriello Ughi(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Bevilacqua, Marco Giorgio; Rechichi, Piergiuseppe[EN] From 1626, the modern age fortification of the medieval walls of Pisa, in Tuscany, started following an organic project by Gabriello Ughi that defined a new bastioned front composed of earthen ramparts, demilunes, faussebraies and cavaliers. The earthen-fortified front remained active until the last years of the 18th century; it was later demolished for reasons of public health, in the wider context of the demilitarization policies operated by Grand Duke Peter Leopold. Starting from the analysis of archival and iconographic sources, this paper shows the results of a study on the 17th century earthen fortified front, aimed at understanding forms, consistencies, and design choices in the light of Ughi’s cultural context and references. In particular, the study focuses on the analysis of the eastern front, where the project shows more interesting and articulated solutions due to the irregularities of the circuit of the pre-existing medieval walls.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Preserving Cultural Heritage, Enhancing Social Development, and Fostering Sustainable Tourism: The Role of Architecture in Himara's Ancient Castle(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Milio, Giannenta[EN] Preserving cultural heritage while fostering social development is a crucial challenge faced by many historical sites worldwide. This research explores the intricate relationship between architectural approaches, sustainable tourism, community engagement, and the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the preservation and adaptive reuse of Himara's ancient castle.To assess the fortification's impact on its environment and society, a double materiality assessment will be employed. This approach acknowledges both the material and immaterial dimensions of cultural heritage, considering the urban fabric and its intangible cultural values. Through a comprehensive examination of these aspects, the study aims to ensure that preservation efforts align with the needs and aspirations of the local community. The research will also integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles as a methodology to guide decision-making and planning processes.By analyzing the architectural approaches and historical context of Himara's ancient castle, the study seeks to identify strategies for preserving cultural heritage while promoting social development. The research will explore the fortification's impact on the local community, such as heritage-based employment, cultural identity, and social cohesion, to foster a deeper understanding of its role in contemporary society.The study's outcomes aim to inform the broader discourse on heritage preservation and sustainable development, offering practical guidance for preserving the legacy of the past while shaping a prosperous and inclusive future for the local community.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Il progetto della conoscenza per la conservazione e il restauro del castello aragonese di Piazza Armerina(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Versaci, Antonella; Cardaci, Alessio; Fauzia, Luca Renato[EN] The castle of Piazza Armerina in Sicily is a historic landmark that dates to the second half of the 14th century. It was erected by King Martin I, likely on a preexisting Franciscan monastery. The history of the manor is incomplete, particularly until it was converted into a prison in the early 19th century. This function, which lasted until the 60s of the 20th century, involved several changes in its original layout. Further abandonment has led to a gradual decline and to important instability phenomena. The purchase by private individuals in 2017 renewed interest in the monument and launched a new phase of study aimed at its conservation and enhancement. The methodological path carried out made it possible to analytically illustrate the state of conservation of the structure. The new cognitive framework also allowed to identify elements that were useful for the formulation of re-configurative hypotheses. In 2019, the owner of the property made the decision to undertake the restoration of the exterior walls. The intervention – which partially enjoyed the tax benefits deriving from the Façade Bonus established by the 2020 Italian Budget Law – has not yet been completed and is suspended pending the recovery of the sums necessary for the continuation of the works. However, the opportunity offered by this program was certainly advantageous, making it possible to start an unavoidable conservation activity. This tax measure, which draws inspiration from the French Malraux law (1962) has favoured the recovery of several historical buildings in Italy, but the timing imposed by the financing and the difficulties aroused for the sale of tax credits, have created a series of setbacks and dangers for the correct carrying out of the activities on which this paper focuses.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Ortus aquarum: il castello Piccolomini a Ortucchio nella conca del Fucino(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Palestini, Caterina; Lolli, Stella[EN] The contribution is part of the wider research concerning the defensive systems of the internal Abruzzo and specifically of the Marsican territory. The investigation takes into consideration a rare example of a fortress, originally accessible only by water, strategically located on an islet that lapped the shores of the ancient Lake Fucino. It is the castle built in the second half of the fifteenth century by Antonio Piccolomini which incorporates a previous medieval tower located in the historic center of Ortucchio (AQ). The eponymous tectonic basin lake, fed by precipitation and streams, did not have a natural emissary, reason why the water level was variable and dependent on the intensity and frequency of seasonal atmospheric events. Consequently, the historic center of Ortucchio underwent a change of physical-perceptive identity passing from the conformation of peninsula to that of island and the fortress was one of the distinctive places in the changing anthropic scenario of Lake Fucino before its drying up (1875).Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Obra en Patrimonio Público Español. Una experiencia profesional(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Olmedilla Lacasa, Fernando; Huertas de Maya, Yanira; Barraca de Ramos, Pilar[EN] Action on the monumental architectural heritage implies the formation of multidisciplinary teams whose mission is its preservation and enhancement for its enjoyment in the present and inheritance of the future. Thanks to this work it is possible to undertake the complex tasks of rehabilitation and restoration of fortified monuments, maintaining their original essence in aesthetics and architecture, always providing information that allows us to recognize their memory and the identity they had in past times. Public administrations, associations, foundations, or councils can access different public subsidies in order to preserve the Heritage Property and ensure that the surrounding environment values it to finally protect it by considering it their own. This kind of works are sustainable due to the rehabilitation of these castles and defensive monuments, since the obtaining of benefits is reflected in their enhancement, in their recognition by the society that inhabits that territory, in their cultural promotion and their dissemination as a high-level tourist product. The commitment to Heritage that is a guarantee of success when there is a prior study and awareness of the need for intervention. There are very numerous assets on which to act and the choice must be determined for logistical reasons, applying the recommendations and instructions entrusted by international organizations such as UNESCO or the Council of Europe. Using value judgments about the history of the place or the landscape it forms, supervised by expert technicians in each subject, we will guarantee that the future of each intervention is an example of how to act, demonstrating that, seeking excellence, resources are allocated to the best proposals. We show, as examples, a selection of projects that are successfully completed in Spain, or are in development, carried out through agreements with public entities or through competitions to obtain economic funds, and that include a series of defensive structures of different chronological moments.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Fort Oštro and the first defensive line at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor - 19th century Austro-Hungarian military architecture(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Bilić, Darka; Majer Jurišić, Krasanka[EN] The Austro-Hungarian monarchy in the middle of the 19th century not only strengthened its defensive line toward the Ottoman territories in the hinterland of the Bay of Kotor, but also constructed a network of shoreline defences to safeguard its newly acquired territories from naval attacks. As part of the same initiative, the sea entrance to the Bay of Kotor, strategically very important part of the Adriatic coast at the time, was also fortified. Three forts were built as the first defensive line, one on the cape Ostro, one on the islet Žanjica, called Mamula, and the third one on the Cape Arza. Their bases were stone-built casemates with flanking guns and open mercer batteries placed on platforms. Unfortunately, they became obsolete very quickly because they could not meet modern defensive requirements. Given that they were very visible and therefore an easy target for increasingly sophisticated naval weapons, a number of minor and major adjustments were made over time that resulted in changes and adjustments to the building structure. With the end of the importance and political influence of Austria-Hungary, the fortification systems it built lost their value and deteriorated over time. Today, they not only reflect an important historical and political moment, the way of warfare and defence at that time, but also the monarchy's need for the appearance of forts to be a combination of certain architectural taste and military needs.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Estudio comparado de las garitas esquineras del Castell de Pallejà y Mas Cabanyes en el litoral de Barcelona(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Valdivieso Sánchez, Enrique[EN] The object of this work is the comparative study of the cylindrical corner sentry boxes built with brickwork, stone corbel and ceramic dome in two buildings with the typology of a Catalan stately casa forta, built in the mid-16th century on the coast of the province of Barcelona and whose purpose was the defense of the masías against the recurring attack of pirates from the Mediterranean coast. This is an approach to these defensive elements of fortified farmhouse in Catalonia, through the comparative study of two specific cases implemented in the geography of the province of Barcelona. With the analysis of these two cases, an approach is proposed to the study, little promulgated, of these defensive sentry boxes, from the perspective of the discipline of Construction History, applying scientific methodology for the knowledge of Architectural Heritage. The analysis of this defensive element allows us to take a historical tour of the evolution of the Catalan fortified house typology, within the common matrix of the masía as a traditional Catalan rural house. The comparative case study contrasts the formal evolution, both general of the buildings and of the sentry boxes, putting together the convergent and divergent lines that the quantitative and qualitative data obtained show, proposing a series of conclusions that bring together the key points of the knowledge obtained.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Historical and 3D Survey Analyses for an Informative Database on the Venetian fort of Sant’Andrea(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Galeazzo, Ludovica; Parrinello, Sandro[EN] This paper focuses on the Venetian fort of Sant’Andrea, also known as Castel Nuovo, located at the entrance of Venice’s lagoon, in front of the inlet of San Nicolò del Lido. Redesigned in 1543 by the architect Michele Sanmicheli with the assistance of a series of military experts appointed by the Republic, at the time it represented the most relevant modern fortress of the city, embodying the image of the defence and political-institutional power of the Serenissima. Over the centuries, the building complex was profoundly altered by several restoration works and it is now in a state of disrepair and at risk for sale. In April 2023, a new digital survey of the whole structure was developed within the ERC project Venice’s Nissology (VeNiss), a research that seeks to reconstruct digitally the history Venice’s lagoon islands – from the sixteenth century onwards – through a geospatial semantic infrastructure. The survey campaign was conducted with mobile and TLS laser scanners and drones (flying and submarine) to generate digital archives, point clouds, and three dimensional models integrated and interwoven with historical and archival data in the informative system. While the elaboration of architectural drawings (sections and maps) is fundamental to describe the state of conservation of the fort, it also comprises the essential reference point for analysing its change over time. The digital twin of the fortress, accessible through the interactive 3D online map, constitutes a crucial opportunity to visualise its long-term architectural transformations as well as promoting strategies of valorisation of this important and almost neglected monument to a broad public.Item type: Capítulo de libro , Access status: Abierto , Assedi e macchine da guerra nel Mezzogiorno normanno, XI e XII secolo(Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2024-04-16) Coppola, Giovanni[EN] The establishment of Norman authority in southern Italy and Sicily was the result of an unprecedented effort that would substantially alter the future political order of the Mediterranean. The most effective military action adopted by Norman commanders was siege warfare, carried out against the main fortifications and major urban centers. This technique, very much related to Byzantine military traditions, consisted in surrounding with the army the place to be conquered with one or more small "counter-castles", preventing supplies from the outside, and at the same time engineering some powerful war machines, built for the occasion by the doctissimi artifices, which hammered the walls with intensity forcing it to surrender. The sophisticated lignorum machinae presented different types: mobile towers equipped with battering-rams, petrary, ballistae in addition to the well-known trebuchets with rope or counterweight devices.Starting from the written sources of the period, the essay aims to describe the salient phases of the main sieges conducted by the Normans between the 11th and 12th centuries, in which they experimented with singular warfare tools and strategies to get the better of the Lombard, Byzantine and Muslim armies.