Piani di fortificazione in Calabria Ultra tra XVI e XVII secolo

The kingdom of Naples, as it is known, was acquired by the Crown of Spain in 1504 and as Viceregno it will be part of the Spanish empire for more than two centuries. The empire between the 16th and 17th centuries was faced with various challenges, both internal and boundary, particularly maritime, attacked by the Ottoman expansion. Urban and coastal fortification plans were prepared and put in place to defend the territory. Calabria was also a participant in this effort, which the Viceroys directed and followed from Naples, with the approval of Madrid. The study is aimed at the projects and achievements implemented in the chronological period under review in Calabria Ultra, current provinces of Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro and Crotone. Particular attention will be paid to coastal defense plans with the design of new towers, while providing pertinent data on renovations and new fortification constructions, be they urban boundaries and / or castles in state-owned or feudal cities, which integrate defensive projects of the coasts. It is important to highlight how the types adopted are consistent with coherent implementations implemented in the extended territory of the empire, thus declaring widespread knowledge and cultural identity in the Europe of the time.