Palmanova

Palmanova
Comune
Città di Palmanova
Aerial view of Palmanova
Palmanova Location of Palmanova in Italy
Coordinates: 45°54′N 13°19′E / 45.900°N 13.317°E / 45.900; 13.317
Country	Italy
Region	Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Province / Metropolitan city	Udine (UD)
Frazioni	Jalmicco, Sottoselva, San Marco
Government
• Mayor	Francesco Martines
Area
• Total	13.32 km2 (5.14 sq mi)
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Population (21 December 2009)
• Total	5,406
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Palmarini
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	33057
Dialing code	0432
Patron saint	Justina of Padua
Saint day	October 7
Website	Official website

Palmanova (Friulian: Palme) is a town and comune in northeastern Italy. The town is an excellent example of star fort of the Late Renaissance, built up by the Venetians in 1593.

Located in the southeast part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, it is 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Udine, 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Gorizia and 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Trieste, near the junction of the motorways A23 and A4.

On 7 October 1593, the superintendent of the Republic of Venice founded a revolutionary new kind of settlement: Palmanova. The city’s founding date commemorated the victory of the Christian forces (supplied primarily by the Italian states and the Spanish kingdom) over the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, during the War of Cyprus. Also honored on 7 October was Saint Justina, chosen as the city’s patron saint. Using all the latest military innovations of the 16th century, this small town was a fortress in the shape of a nine-pointed star, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Between the points of the star, ramparts protruded so that the points could defend each other. A moat surrounded the town, and three large, guarded gates allowed entry. The construction of the first circle, with a total circumference of 7 kilometres (4 mi), took 30 years. Marcantonio Barbaro headed a group of Venetian noblemen in charge of building the town, Marcantonio Martinego was in charge of construction, and Giulio Savorgnan acted as an adviser. A second phase of construction took place between 1658 and 1690, and the outer line of fortifications was completed between 1806 and 1813 under the Napoleonic domination. The final fortress consists of: 9 ravelins, 9 bastions, 9 lunettes, and 18 cavaliers. In 1815 the city came under Austrian rule until 1866, when it was annexed to Italy together with Veneto and the western Friuli. In 1960 Palmanova was declared a national monument.