Palmanova

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Comune di Palmanova
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Province	Udine (UD)
Mayor	Federico Cressati
Elevation	27 m
Area	13 km²
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)	5,413
- Density	411/km²
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	45°54′N, 13°19′E
Gentilic	Palmarini
Dialing code	0432
Postal code	33057
Frazioni	Jalmicco, Sottoselva, San Marco
Patron	St. Justina of Padua
- Day	October 7
Website: www.comune.palmanova.ud.it

Palmanova (Friulian: Palme) is a town in northeastern Italy, close to the border with Slovenia. It is located 20 km from Udine, 28 km from Gorizia and 55 km from Trieste near the junction of the Autostrada Alpe-Adna (A23) and the Autostrada Venezia-Trieste (A4).

Palmanova is famous for its fortress plan and structure, called a star fort, imitated in the Modern era by numerous military architects.

Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 3 Transportation 4 References

[edit] History

On October 7, 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 European forces (supplied primarily by the Venetian republic) over Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Lepanto. October 7 also celebrated Saint Justina, chosen as the city’s patron saint. Using all the latest military innovations of the 16th century, this tiny town was a fortress in the shape of a nine-pointed star, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. In between the points of the star, ramparts protruded so that the points could defend each other. A moat surrounded the town, and three big, guarded gates allowed entry.

The outer line of fortifications was completed under the Napoleonic domination. From 1815 to 1866 the city was under Austria, and was annexed 50 years later to Italy together with Veneto and the western Friuli.

In 1960 Palmanova was declared national monument.

[edit] Main sights

• The three monumental gates Porta Udine, Porta Cividale and Porta Aquileia.
• The Piazza Grande, to which all the main edifices of the city open, built in Istrian stone.
• The Cathedral (1615-1636), by Baldassarre Longhena, is the main example of Venetian architecture in Friuli. It includes a canvas of St. Barbara with Saints by Padovanino.

[edit] Transportation

Palmanova can be reached from the near higways A23 (Udine-Tarvisio) and A4 (Turin-Trieste).

[edit] References

• Palmanova, Italy. NASA Earth Observatory newsroom. Retrieved on April 28, 2004.
• Palmanova, Italy. Google Maps. Retrieved on October 5, 2006.
• Aerial picture (low res.)