Videos by Sara Isgrò
It can be said that military forts and the fortification art, with specific reference to those fo... more It can be said that military forts and the fortification art, with specific reference to those forts located in the eastern alpine region of Italy, built during WWI, represent a fascinating study case. Further to the recent WWI centenary, it should be considered the grown interest for the fortification art, a topic previously exclusively given to the arms of artillery and engineers, where the former gain some positions with respect to the latter. 10 views
Papers by Sara Isgrò
5°International multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences & Arts, 2018
The executive project of the Forte Montecchio North, drawn up by the Military Genius Works Manage... more The executive project of the Forte Montecchio North, drawn up by the Military Genius Works Management in 1912 and revised in 1914 with the aim of expanding the powder magazine in the cave in order to store explosives in the same, for road breaks, come from the suppressed Tanno’s powder magazine (near Chiavenna), reflects the typical characteristics of the Italian forts built between 1904 and 1914, debtors of the theoretical studies of general Enrico Rocchi (Rome, 1850 - 1933). The contribution aims to offer, through the different iconographies and unpublished drawings of the Montecchio Nord fort (Colico), a conscious reading of what, in the publications of the late nineteenth century and in the publications of the Inspectorate of Military Genius, is reported of permanent fortification, and, more specifically, on the structure of the strong 'Rocchi' type, from the name of its creator. The projects are part of a copious collection of large-sized drawings, in loose sheets, not numbered, made in china, pencil and pen, by the officers of the Military Engineers, in which the impervious and rocky nature is with the same attention to the detail dedicated to the structures to be built, in this way to emphasize how, not casually, the natural element such as rocks, the orography and morphology of the site, become an integral part of the structure itself and therefore primarily the territory is placed at the service of the strategy defensive and / or offensive. In occasione del centesimo anniversario della Prima Guerra Mondiale, si è debolmente avviato quel processo di riconoscimento alle architetture militari del valore di “monumento”, promuovendo copiose politiche di valorizzazione e di conservazione del sistema paesaggio-forte. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, the process of recognition of military architecture of the value of "monument" has slowly begun, promoting copious policies of valorisation and conservation of the landscape-strong system.
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ReUSO 2018. L'intreccio dei saperi per rispettare il passato interpretare il presente salvaguardare , 2018
In the first two decades of the Unification of Italy, the contribution General Staff to the compi... more In the first two decades of the Unification of Italy, the contribution General Staff to the compilation of military operational plans, was essentially developped into topographical studies of the land that were made available to the Permanent Commission and the General Staff Committee.
After the Austro-Prussian war and the heavy defeats suffered by the Austrian forces in Sadowa (July 3, 1866), becomes evident the stringent necessity of preparing an efficient defensive system at its South-Western borders, particularly in South Tyrol.
Since 1866 the strategic importance of Riva del Garda acquires a decisive value for the defense of the so-called "Saliente Trentino", having become, in fact, as an advanced tip aimed at the enemy territory, gives rise to the important need to fortify it to such an extent make it unassailable.
This was followed by an intense period of surveys and analysis of the terrain, during which the study of the operation lines under the tactical and logistic profile was investigated, the defensive value of particular positions located near rivers courses, chains mountainous and fortified works.
And is due precisely the drawings of the Austro-Hungarian fortification system detected by Italian officers engaged in border reconnaissance during the General Staff trips [4], kept in the Archives of the Historical Office of the Army General Staff of Rome, as well as the archival material consulted at the Kriegsarchiv in Vienna to allow investigating and deepening, the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, with particular regard to the fortified works and the Austro-Hungarian artifacts.
In this paper are presented the drawings that attest the intense fortification activity in Riva del Garda.
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Immediality after the birth of the Kingdom of italy, the leaders of the Italian Army felt the nee... more Immediality after the birth of the Kingdom of italy, the leaders of the Italian Army felt the need to carry out the study of a plan to strengthen the national borders, ficused on the construction of permanent fortification works that could help to block the main lines of invasion of the Peninsula.
Operational planning was essentially founded on the search for defensive lines based on artificial obstacles such as strong, or natural, such as river courses or hills, able to impede enemy invasion and favor the defensive deployment of friendly troops.
The archival material consulted in the Archives of the Historical office of the Army General Staff of Rome, has allowed to investigate and deepen the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, the road system and the permanent defenses in front of the border line and the innermost territorie of the Habsburg monarchy, but also the Austro-Hungarian fortification activities on the Italian border.
Concerning this, the present contributionpresentd the drawings of the entrenched camp of Riva del Garda, written by the Captain of General Staff De Lutti during the topographical survey campaign of 1897-99.
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Sara Isgrò, 2019
The unique combination between Italian permanent fortification system’s peculiar geographic locat... more The unique combination between Italian permanent fortification system’s peculiar geographic location and typological specificity has been one of the elements that have brought to a larger and deeper knowledge of the current state of alpine fortification’s studies during last years.
The knowledge about indirect sources, which cannot under any circumstances disregard, whatever the aim of the research may be, a serious, scientific, not superficial and consciously critical historical research – currently in progress – was flanked by a direct reading of this military architecture heritage pertaining to First world war, through an intense campaign of inspections and surveys made in different places affected by first world conflict of Trento and Vicenza provinces.
In this regard the contribution wanted to retrace also some of the interventions which, with the start of the promulgation of law n. 78 of 2001 “Historical First world war heritage protection”, after we recognized the importance of a historical-critical approach towards fortified structures study and their link with the territory, they have followed as part of a comprehensive protection, conservation and development plan of landscape-forts system.
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The planners of coastal defenses, starting from the first years of the Unification of Italy, bega... more The planners of coastal defenses, starting from the first years of the Unification of Italy, began to concentrate their interest in organizing a major fortification system in some of the main coastal cities characterized by the presence of ports. When around 1910 it was felt that a breaking of relations with Austria would inevitably lead to conflict, the attention was moved to the north eastern border, resulting in an increased activity in assuring the fortification of this border area. The technological innovations and the progress of science, among many the one of the armaments, had very soon highlighted the inadequacy of the existing forts with the consequence of the modification of the constructive criteria. The city of Venice, defended in the past along the coastline by twelve forts and batteries located on the seafront and largely positioned on the islands of the lagoon as a control on the various connection channels, and by five forts on the mainland instead, will be object of particular attention and studies by the Commission for the close defense of the coasts, in 1882; the latter foresaw an initial construction of a battery followed by another four, bases for the main operation; for delaying the taking of possession on the part of an enemy from the sea; individuate that could have been useful for war operations or serve as a refuge for naval forces; obtain an active vigilance of the coast. While the Istrian coast, starting from Grado to the east, offered to the Austro-Hungarian Navy a number of excellent ports and safe anchorages for large battleships, the Italian coast did not present any natural harbor that could even remotely rival the inlet of Pula and the others, of Kotor and Sibenik. In the Upper Adriatic the only port was represented by the Venetian structure.The development of the new fortified structures led, therefore, to the construction, during 1912, of three coastal batteries: on the Lido coast the battery “Emo”, in Palestrina the “Dandolo” and in Cavallino the “San Marco” battery. In this last monograph Provisions for the anti-aircraft defense of the military zone of Venice we have a precise explanation of the dislocation and planning of the infrastructural system in support of the “fixed defense”. The coastal observation stations of Grado, Porto Buso, Porto Lignano, Punta Tagliamento, etc; the watch towers located in Udine located in Udine, Oderzo, San Dona di Piave, etc. Added to these are the coastal batteries in the Cavallino area, the subject of some recent or even current adaptation interventions, which open up to the theme of architecture in the coastal environment, and to that of coast modification and planning of the same, with the inevitable consequences on the landscape and sometimes urban planning; think, then, to the many traces, visible today, of the Decauville railway system, punctuated by the military telephone line, which open even more to the theme of military archeology, as well as the various dredging and excavation works of the Pordelio canal, and of the other places behind the coast line. Coastal areas are of strategic importance as they perform economic, residential, transport and recreational functions of particular relevance strictly dependent on physical characteristics, landscape beauty, cultural heritage, natural resources; bands of sea-land interactions, dynamic and fragile, to be protected, in a comprehensive and integrated way, as "sensitive" areas where often conflicting activities are concentrated. Therefore, the contribution, starting from the knowledge of the coastal planning forms in the Adriatic coast at the outbreak of the conflict with the Austro-Hungarian empire, through a brief review of the fixed defense works, coastal batteries, but also of all other complementary means of action and subsidiaries of the defense itself, in adherence to the indications proposed by the European Commission (2006), intends to call attention to the issue of protecting the coastal environment and the importance of resorting to holistic, participatory and open planning and management methods.
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Military Landscapes. Scenari per il futuro del patrimonio militare / Military Landscapes. A future for military heritage, 2017
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The process of refeudalization of Sicily, mostly supported by Chiaramonte’s family, begun after t... more The process of refeudalization of Sicily, mostly supported by Chiaramonte’s family, begun after the War of Vespers (12821302). The construction of imposing buildings undoubtedly marks an epochal transition. It is a demonstration of clients aware of their role and, also, an excellent pretext to affirm with pride the economic, political and cultural supremacy. In the “frame” of the fourteenth century civil architecture of western Sicily, the Chiaramonte and Sclafani palaces in Palermo stand out in the medieval urban context. This contribution retraces the history of the palace built in 1330 by Matteo Sclafani in Palermo nearby the old Royal Palace. Its unusual dimensions (50 x 50 meters), compared to those of other coeval noble residences, further confirm the importance of the client. The intertwining of indirect sources, the bibliographic and the archival research, together with the study of the building, has allowed the researchers to deepen the history of Palazzo Sclafani.
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MILITARY LANDSCAPES, 2017
This research aims, on the evident cultural, historical and architectural ‘values’ of the militar... more This research aims, on the evident cultural, historical and architectural ‘values’ of the military heritage still present in the Archipelago of La Maddalena, to deepen knowledge of these structures and to propose ideas and guidelines on their conservation and enhancement. Between the late eighteenth century and the Second World War the defense of the territory of La Maddalena is expressed especially through measures to protect the borders from foreign invasions, before of the Kingdom of Sardinia and then of Italy. The first attempts of aggression were in the end of 1792, when revolutionary France attacks the Kingdom of Sardinia. In the early nineteenth century the Archipelago was equipped with other structures: in addition to the forts Balbiano and St. Stephen, built between 1790 to 1792, are built the forts Carlo Felice and St. George, on the island of Saint Stephen. In the late nineteenth century,
the Archipelago of La Maddalena had been fortified. At the end of the First World War, changing the strategically prominent areas, the General Staff of the Army, with the Royal Navy, identifies new fifteen industrial and demographic areas that need protection from the sea. Today, a cultural asset of great strategic importance and landscape, live in the extremely conditions and are subject to spoliation and demolition; a situation that demands urgent action, supported by a preliminary step of knowledge as well as by the development of specific system works for the protection and enhancement.
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Storie e architettura in Sicilia e nel Mediterraneo, 2017
The process of refeudalization of Sicily, mostly supported by Chiaramonte’s family, begun after t... more The process of refeudalization of Sicily, mostly supported by Chiaramonte’s family, begun after the War of Vespers (1282-1302). That process pushed back to the Norman “forms”, partly influenced by the subsequent experiences of the Swabian period, after the transfer of the royal residence from Sicily to Aragon. The construction of that imposing buildings undoubtedly marks an epochal transition. It is, as a matter of fact, a demonstration of clients aware of their role and, also, an excellent pretext to affirm with pride the economic, political and cultural supremacy of the authority established on populations. In the “frame” of the fourteenth century civil architecture of western Sicily the two palermitan palaces, the Chiaramonte and Sclafani palaces stand out in the medieval urban context, with their perfectly square dimensions and absolutely impermeable to the outside.
The present contribution intends, therefore, to retrace the history of the house of the magnates erected in 1330 by Matteo Sclafani in Palermo at Palazzo Reale, near the Aragonese court, in a opposite position to the Navy Plan and then to the Hosterium magnum. Its unusual planimetric dimensions (50 x 50 meters), compared to those of other coeval noble residences or, even more, with the municipal buildings of Milan, Florence, Siena, further confirm the considerable weight of the noble reality in Sicily, much more than elsewhere. The intersection of indirect sources, the bibliographic and the archival research, together with the study of the factory autopsy, has allowed the researchers to deepen the history of Palazzo Sclafani. It represents, indeed, a palimpsest, in a chronological arc covering six centuries of life of the building , and it contributes to give a greater reflection on the need to expand the field of research to civil and military architecture of the fourteenth century in Sicily, through the comparison with other noble and / or municipal buildings in central and southern Italy.
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Il Policlinico militare Celio tra innovazioni e tradizione costruttiva, 2018
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La tesi si colloca all’interno del curricula Patrimonio architettonico e paesaggio: storia e rest... more La tesi si colloca all’interno del curricula Patrimonio architettonico e paesaggio: storia e restauro, il cui obiettivo e legato agli orientamenti e alle metodologie di conoscenza, interpretazione storiografica e d’intervento nell’ambito della conservazione dei beni architettonici e paesaggistici, attraverso la Storia dell’architettura, l’analisi e la catalogazione dell’Iconografia storica e le metodologie storiografiche, la storia di citta e paesaggi, le teorie e la storia del restauro architettonico, l’analisi dei sistemi costruttivi e l’innovazione nei metodi di restauro. Al riguardo, in relazione all’approssimarsi della ricorrenza del Centenario della Grande Guerra, in ragione del notevolmente cresciuto interesse per l’architettura militare in genere, ed in particolare per le fortificazioni permanenti nelle Alpi, la tesi si e posta come obiettivo quello di riscoprire il tema dell’arte fortificatoria, un tempo riservata ai soli specialisti – ingegneri e tecnici del genio e d’arti...
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The First World War brought epochal innovations in military, political, socio-economicand terms c... more The First World War brought epochal innovations in military, political, socio-economicand terms cultural also for the prodigies that scientific-technological progress has produced:enormous logistical systems and technological predisposed almost exclusivelyto destroy. The Verena fort, built on the homonymous one peak overlooking the Assavalley, it represented the most efficient Italian response to fortification Austrian-Hungarian.It was built according to the nineteenth-century principles of Enrico Rocchi: withfire mouths effective for long-distance shooting. By reading the correspondence from theCommission of Inquiry, yes design errors of permanent works are avoided. Today, theruins of the Verena fort, in a area of extraordinary landscape value, are easily accessiblethrough the chairlift which, from the Verenetta refuge below, it climbs to the top ofMount Verena. The current appearance is that of a ruin and as such is placed on the linebetween the search for immortality of matter an...
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Annali n. 27 | Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra, 2019
L’autrice propone una dettagliata ricognizione delle norme e delle tecniche di costruzione di tri... more L’autrice propone una dettagliata ricognizione delle norme e delle tecniche di costruzione di trincee, camminamenti, ricoveri, così come sistemi difensivi e opere complementari forniti dal Comando Supremo dell’esercito italiano a partire dall’Istruzione sui lavori del campo di battaglia del 1913 e dalle circolari successive.
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Il contributo proposto intende approfondire lo studio del sistema di difesa permanente “forti” di... more Il contributo proposto intende approfondire lo studio del sistema di difesa permanente “forti” disposti lungo la linea di confine con l’impero austro-ungarico durante la prima Guerra Mondiale, al fine di una loro tutela e valorizzazione. Lo studio prende le mosse dall’analisi dei documenti conservati presso l'Archivio di Stato Maggiore Esercito di Roma: si tratta di piani operativi elaborati per la Commissione Permanente e il Comitato di Stato Maggiore Generale. Attraverso un rilievo minuzioso, gli stessi ufficiali e/o il personale impegnato in vere e proprie azioni di spionaggio, restituivano l'immagine del paesaggio, della viabilità e delle difese permanenti prospicienti la linea di confine, offrendo un quadro sempre aggiornato anche dei territori più interni della Duplice Monarchia. Impresa che aveva così grande influenza sulle operazioni militari da condizionare in maniera sostanziale le manovre dei reparti soprattutto nei territori di montagna che caratterizzavano la frontiera italiana. Lavoro questo fondamentale e minuzioso: “Lo studio del terreno era infatti indispensabile per lo sviluppo delle varie fasi di un’operazione di guerra”.
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Il contributo proposto intende approfondire lo studio del patrimonio culturale nei diversi teatri... more Il contributo proposto intende approfondire lo studio del patrimonio culturale nei diversi teatri di guerra in Medioriente, ove sovente, ogni opera dell’umanità viene irrimediabilmente distrutta. I possibili interventi di restauro e/o di conservazione, potrebbero sicuramente offrire una preziosa occasione per il coinvolgimento delle Comunità locali e per il recupero di buoni livelli di consapevolezza culturale e civile; suscitando nel contempo, una più approfondita riflessione sul senso collettivo della riscoperta e della tutela delle storie locali con la conseguenza che un monumento diventi lo specchio, in cui la collettività tutta, possa riconoscersi, evitando dunque, il rischio di una nuova e più grave perdita di identità.
Ricordando Heidegger: «L’essenza stessa dello spirito si riconosce nella memoria», e parafrasando alcuni versi del Corano per cui “….tutto ciò che si distrugge non è buono,…” credo sia spontaneo chiedersi: « perché dovrei mantenere qualcosa che non è buono? Come e perché dovrei conservare un monumento, in quanto monumentum, "ricordo", da monère, "ricordare", nel quale non mi riconosco?». Da ciò l’esigenza di un approccio multidisciplinare che coinvolga oltre che gli esperti dei singoli siti anche i sociologi, al fine di dare vita ad azioni di tutela interessanti e portare, attraverso il coinvolgimento degli intellettuali locali, ad una nuova riflessione sul rapporto tra “Restauro” e “Identità”.
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The planners of coastal defenses, starting from the first years of the Unification of Italy, bega... more The planners of coastal defenses, starting from the first years of the Unification of Italy, began to concentrate their interest in organizing a major fortification system in some of the main coastal cities characterized by the presence of ports. When around 1910 it was felt that a breaking of relations with Austria would inevitably lead to conflict, the attention was moved to the north eastern border, resulting in an increased activity in assuring the fortification of this border area. The technological innovations and the progress of science, among many the one of the armaments, had very soon highlighted the inadequacy of the existing forts with the consequence of the modification of the constructive criteria. The city of Venice, defended in the past along the coastline by twelve forts and batteries located on the seafront and largely positioned on the islands of the lagoon as a control on the various connection channels, and by five forts on the mainland instead, will be object of particular attention and studies by the Commission for the close defense of the coasts, in 1882; the latter foresaw an initial construction of a battery followed by another four, bases for the main operation; for delaying the taking of possession on the part of an enemy from the sea; individuate that could have been useful for war operations or serve as a refuge for naval forces; obtain an active vigilance of the coast. While the Istrian coast, starting from Grado to the east, offered to the Austro-Hungarian Navy a number of excellent ports and safe anchorages for large battleships, the Italian coast did not present any natural harbor that could even remotely rival the inlet of Pula and the others, of Kotor and Sibenik. In the Upper Adriatic the only port was represented by the Venetian structure.The development of the new fortified structures led, therefore, to the construction, during 1912, of three coastal batteries: on the Lido coast the battery “Emo”, in Palestrina the “Dandolo” and in Cavallino the “San Marco” battery. In this last monograph Provisions for the anti-aircraft defense of the military zone of Venice we have a precise explanation of the dislocation and planning of the infrastructural system in support of the “fixed defense”. The coastal observation stations of Grado, Porto Buso, Porto Lignano, Punta Tagliamento, etc; the watch towers located in Udine located in Udine, Oderzo, San Dona di Piave, etc. Added to these are the coastal batteries in the Cavallino area, the subject of some recent or even current adaptation interventions, which open up to the theme of architecture in the coastal environment, and to that of coast modification and planning of the same, with the inevitable consequences on the landscape and sometimes urban planning; think, then, to the many traces, visible today, of the Decauville railway system, punctuated by the military telephone line, which open even more to the theme of military archeology, as well as the various dredging and excavation works of the Pordelio canal, and of the other places behind the coast line. Coastal areas are of strategic importance as they perform economic, residential, transport and recreational functions of particular relevance strictly dependent on physical characteristics, landscape beauty, cultural heritage, natural resources; bands of sea-land interactions, dynamic and fragile, to be protected, in a comprehensive and integrated way, as "sensitive" areas where often conflicting activities are concentrated. Therefore, the contribution, starting from the knowledge of the coastal planning forms in the Adriatic coast at the outbreak of the conflict with the Austro-Hungarian empire, through a brief review of the fixed defense works, coastal batteries, but also of all other complementary means of action and subsidiaries of the defense itself, in adherence to the indications proposed by the European Commission (2006), intends to call attention to the issue of protecting the coastal environment and the importance of resorting to holistic, participatory and open planning and management methods.
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A. Aveta, B. G. Marino, R. Amore (a cura di), “La Baia di Napoli, strategie integrate per la conservazione e la fruizione del paesaggio culturale”, 2017
Some drawings and engravings rediscovered in the British Museum, attributed to different authors,... more Some drawings and engravings rediscovered in the British Museum, attributed to different authors, return the images of those places that Pliny called Campania Felix; these were rediscovered by European travelers-artists who landed here since the seventeenth century and that, enchanted, painted waters, lands and striking monuments, cities and countries. Moreover the discovery of a large photographic collection of early twentieth century, never investigated nor published, filed with the National Library of Rome, it gives us the image of the coast of Baia and of Islands facing, in a historical juncture where already ripened the conditions for protection active landscape. The proposal, therefore, aims to provide an overview of the case concerning the evolution / involution of the image of the landscape of Baia in the last century, studied through the analysis of regulations and measures, carried out in the period of 80 years, starting from the first conference of the landscape held in Capri in July 1922, to end the European landscape Convention signed in Florence on 20 October 2000.
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Conference Presentations by Sara Isgrò
The event is organised by the Freedom for Italy Second World War history network. It is supported... more The event is organised by the Freedom for Italy Second World War history network. It is supported by Comune di Anzio and the Comune di Ne uno and will feature senior representa ves of the Italian armed forces and government. Other speakers will include representa ves of the governments of Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, the UK, the US and other na ons involved in events in Italy in 1943-45.
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Videos by Sara Isgrò
Papers by Sara Isgrò
After the Austro-Prussian war and the heavy defeats suffered by the Austrian forces in Sadowa (July 3, 1866), becomes evident the stringent necessity of preparing an efficient defensive system at its South-Western borders, particularly in South Tyrol.
Since 1866 the strategic importance of Riva del Garda acquires a decisive value for the defense of the so-called "Saliente Trentino", having become, in fact, as an advanced tip aimed at the enemy territory, gives rise to the important need to fortify it to such an extent make it unassailable.
This was followed by an intense period of surveys and analysis of the terrain, during which the study of the operation lines under the tactical and logistic profile was investigated, the defensive value of particular positions located near rivers courses, chains mountainous and fortified works.
And is due precisely the drawings of the Austro-Hungarian fortification system detected by Italian officers engaged in border reconnaissance during the General Staff trips [4], kept in the Archives of the Historical Office of the Army General Staff of Rome, as well as the archival material consulted at the Kriegsarchiv in Vienna to allow investigating and deepening, the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, with particular regard to the fortified works and the Austro-Hungarian artifacts.
In this paper are presented the drawings that attest the intense fortification activity in Riva del Garda.
Operational planning was essentially founded on the search for defensive lines based on artificial obstacles such as strong, or natural, such as river courses or hills, able to impede enemy invasion and favor the defensive deployment of friendly troops.
The archival material consulted in the Archives of the Historical office of the Army General Staff of Rome, has allowed to investigate and deepen the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, the road system and the permanent defenses in front of the border line and the innermost territorie of the Habsburg monarchy, but also the Austro-Hungarian fortification activities on the Italian border.
Concerning this, the present contributionpresentd the drawings of the entrenched camp of Riva del Garda, written by the Captain of General Staff De Lutti during the topographical survey campaign of 1897-99.
The knowledge about indirect sources, which cannot under any circumstances disregard, whatever the aim of the research may be, a serious, scientific, not superficial and consciously critical historical research – currently in progress – was flanked by a direct reading of this military architecture heritage pertaining to First world war, through an intense campaign of inspections and surveys made in different places affected by first world conflict of Trento and Vicenza provinces.
In this regard the contribution wanted to retrace also some of the interventions which, with the start of the promulgation of law n. 78 of 2001 “Historical First world war heritage protection”, after we recognized the importance of a historical-critical approach towards fortified structures study and their link with the territory, they have followed as part of a comprehensive protection, conservation and development plan of landscape-forts system.
the Archipelago of La Maddalena had been fortified. At the end of the First World War, changing the strategically prominent areas, the General Staff of the Army, with the Royal Navy, identifies new fifteen industrial and demographic areas that need protection from the sea. Today, a cultural asset of great strategic importance and landscape, live in the extremely conditions and are subject to spoliation and demolition; a situation that demands urgent action, supported by a preliminary step of knowledge as well as by the development of specific system works for the protection and enhancement.
The present contribution intends, therefore, to retrace the history of the house of the magnates erected in 1330 by Matteo Sclafani in Palermo at Palazzo Reale, near the Aragonese court, in a opposite position to the Navy Plan and then to the Hosterium magnum. Its unusual planimetric dimensions (50 x 50 meters), compared to those of other coeval noble residences or, even more, with the municipal buildings of Milan, Florence, Siena, further confirm the considerable weight of the noble reality in Sicily, much more than elsewhere. The intersection of indirect sources, the bibliographic and the archival research, together with the study of the factory autopsy, has allowed the researchers to deepen the history of Palazzo Sclafani. It represents, indeed, a palimpsest, in a chronological arc covering six centuries of life of the building , and it contributes to give a greater reflection on the need to expand the field of research to civil and military architecture of the fourteenth century in Sicily, through the comparison with other noble and / or municipal buildings in central and southern Italy.
Ricordando Heidegger: «L’essenza stessa dello spirito si riconosce nella memoria», e parafrasando alcuni versi del Corano per cui “….tutto ciò che si distrugge non è buono,…” credo sia spontaneo chiedersi: « perché dovrei mantenere qualcosa che non è buono? Come e perché dovrei conservare un monumento, in quanto monumentum, "ricordo", da monère, "ricordare", nel quale non mi riconosco?». Da ciò l’esigenza di un approccio multidisciplinare che coinvolga oltre che gli esperti dei singoli siti anche i sociologi, al fine di dare vita ad azioni di tutela interessanti e portare, attraverso il coinvolgimento degli intellettuali locali, ad una nuova riflessione sul rapporto tra “Restauro” e “Identità”.
Conference Presentations by Sara Isgrò
After the Austro-Prussian war and the heavy defeats suffered by the Austrian forces in Sadowa (July 3, 1866), becomes evident the stringent necessity of preparing an efficient defensive system at its South-Western borders, particularly in South Tyrol.
Since 1866 the strategic importance of Riva del Garda acquires a decisive value for the defense of the so-called "Saliente Trentino", having become, in fact, as an advanced tip aimed at the enemy territory, gives rise to the important need to fortify it to such an extent make it unassailable.
This was followed by an intense period of surveys and analysis of the terrain, during which the study of the operation lines under the tactical and logistic profile was investigated, the defensive value of particular positions located near rivers courses, chains mountainous and fortified works.
And is due precisely the drawings of the Austro-Hungarian fortification system detected by Italian officers engaged in border reconnaissance during the General Staff trips [4], kept in the Archives of the Historical Office of the Army General Staff of Rome, as well as the archival material consulted at the Kriegsarchiv in Vienna to allow investigating and deepening, the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, with particular regard to the fortified works and the Austro-Hungarian artifacts.
In this paper are presented the drawings that attest the intense fortification activity in Riva del Garda.
Operational planning was essentially founded on the search for defensive lines based on artificial obstacles such as strong, or natural, such as river courses or hills, able to impede enemy invasion and favor the defensive deployment of friendly troops.
The archival material consulted in the Archives of the Historical office of the Army General Staff of Rome, has allowed to investigate and deepen the intense activity of topographic-military reconnaissance of the border areas, the road system and the permanent defenses in front of the border line and the innermost territorie of the Habsburg monarchy, but also the Austro-Hungarian fortification activities on the Italian border.
Concerning this, the present contributionpresentd the drawings of the entrenched camp of Riva del Garda, written by the Captain of General Staff De Lutti during the topographical survey campaign of 1897-99.
The knowledge about indirect sources, which cannot under any circumstances disregard, whatever the aim of the research may be, a serious, scientific, not superficial and consciously critical historical research – currently in progress – was flanked by a direct reading of this military architecture heritage pertaining to First world war, through an intense campaign of inspections and surveys made in different places affected by first world conflict of Trento and Vicenza provinces.
In this regard the contribution wanted to retrace also some of the interventions which, with the start of the promulgation of law n. 78 of 2001 “Historical First world war heritage protection”, after we recognized the importance of a historical-critical approach towards fortified structures study and their link with the territory, they have followed as part of a comprehensive protection, conservation and development plan of landscape-forts system.
the Archipelago of La Maddalena had been fortified. At the end of the First World War, changing the strategically prominent areas, the General Staff of the Army, with the Royal Navy, identifies new fifteen industrial and demographic areas that need protection from the sea. Today, a cultural asset of great strategic importance and landscape, live in the extremely conditions and are subject to spoliation and demolition; a situation that demands urgent action, supported by a preliminary step of knowledge as well as by the development of specific system works for the protection and enhancement.
The present contribution intends, therefore, to retrace the history of the house of the magnates erected in 1330 by Matteo Sclafani in Palermo at Palazzo Reale, near the Aragonese court, in a opposite position to the Navy Plan and then to the Hosterium magnum. Its unusual planimetric dimensions (50 x 50 meters), compared to those of other coeval noble residences or, even more, with the municipal buildings of Milan, Florence, Siena, further confirm the considerable weight of the noble reality in Sicily, much more than elsewhere. The intersection of indirect sources, the bibliographic and the archival research, together with the study of the factory autopsy, has allowed the researchers to deepen the history of Palazzo Sclafani. It represents, indeed, a palimpsest, in a chronological arc covering six centuries of life of the building , and it contributes to give a greater reflection on the need to expand the field of research to civil and military architecture of the fourteenth century in Sicily, through the comparison with other noble and / or municipal buildings in central and southern Italy.
Ricordando Heidegger: «L’essenza stessa dello spirito si riconosce nella memoria», e parafrasando alcuni versi del Corano per cui “….tutto ciò che si distrugge non è buono,…” credo sia spontaneo chiedersi: « perché dovrei mantenere qualcosa che non è buono? Come e perché dovrei conservare un monumento, in quanto monumentum, "ricordo", da monère, "ricordare", nel quale non mi riconosco?». Da ciò l’esigenza di un approccio multidisciplinare che coinvolga oltre che gli esperti dei singoli siti anche i sociologi, al fine di dare vita ad azioni di tutela interessanti e portare, attraverso il coinvolgimento degli intellettuali locali, ad una nuova riflessione sul rapporto tra “Restauro” e “Identità”.