Teorie urbane, ingegneria militare ed utopia nelle città mediterranee del XVI° secolo. I casi di Sabbioneta e della Medina di Tripoli

This study reveals how the advent of firearms in the 16th century fundamentally reshaped urban planning, particularly in Mediterranean cities. Sabbioneta, a newly constructed Italian city, exemplifies this shift by integrating bastioned defensive systems—ramparts, bastions, and moats—into its design, prioritizing military utility over traditional central structures like squares or cathedrals. This innovation, driven by the emerging field of military engineering, altered urban geometries to resemble utopian ideals, though without their theoretical societal implications. Parallel developments in Tripoli’s Medina post-16th century Spanish intervention underscore this trend, where defense became the dominant feature due to the firearms revolution. The research highlights how these fortified cities reflect a new paradigm in urban development, blending practical military needs with aesthetic and strategic innovation.

Micara, L. (2024). Teorie urbane, ingegneria militare ed utopia nelle città mediterranee del XVI° secolo. I casi di Sabbioneta e della Medina di Tripoli. Defensive Architecture of the Mediterranean Vol. XVI (FORTMED2024). https://doi.org/10.4995/fortmed2024.2024.17908