Walls of Grosseto

The Walls of Grosseto (Italian: mura di Grosseto), known also as Medicean Walls (Italian: mura medicee), are a series of defensive brick walls surrounding the city of Grosseto in southern Tuscany, Italy.

Walls of Grosseto
Mura di Grosseto
Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy
Porta Vecchia
Walls of Grosseto is located in Italy
Walls of Grosseto
Walls of Grosseto
Coordinates42.761806°N 11.1175°E / 42.761806; 11.1175
TypeDefensive walls
Site information
OwnerCity of Grosseto
Controlled byGrand Duchy of Tuscany (1565–1859)
Open to
the public
yes
ConditionWell-preserved or intact
Site history
Built1565–93
Built byCosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Architects involved:
MaterialsBrick

The fortifications were commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici, after the conquest of the Republic of Siena and its annexation to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The walls were designed by engineer-architect Baldassarre Lanci in 1564. Construction began in 1565 and was completed in 1593.

During the 19th century, under the rule of Leopold II, the walkways of the walls were demilitarized and transformed into gardens and promenades.

Fortifications

Bastions, or bulwarks
  • Bastione Rimembranza (Remembrance)
  • Bastione Fortezza (Fortress) – it incorporates the ancient 14th century Sienese fortress
  • Bastione Maiano
  • Bastione Cavallerizza (Equestrian)
  • Bastione Molino a Vento (Windmill)
  • Bastione Garibaldi
City gates
  • Porta Nuova (New Gate)
  • Porta Vecchia (Old Gate) – 14th-century gate, surviving the demolition of the ancient Sienese walls
  • Porta Corsica

Bibliography

  • Beranger, Eugenio Maria (1987). Fonti per lo studio delle mura di Grosseto dal 1767 al 1950 (PDF). Rome: Paleani Editore.
  • Boschi, Mariano (2014). Grosseto e le sue mura. Ghezzano: Felici Editore.
  • Polito, Concetta; Marri, Alessandro; Perin, Luca (1990). Le mura di Grosseto. Rilievi e studi per il recupero. Florence: Alinea Editrice.
  • Giorgio Spini (1983). "I Medici e l'organizzazione del territorio". Storia dell'arte italiana. Momenti di architettura. Turin: Giulio Einaudi. pp. 202–207.

See also

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