'The most beautiful example spontaneous medieval architecture' - Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect, speaking of Bergamo in 1951
Last summer, Bergamo reached a very important milestone and thus realised a real dream: to join the Unesco heritage. The Venetian walls of Città Alta have been included in the list of Unesco sites, the agency under the United Nations. L'Unesco deals with protecting the cultural heritage of our planet and promote peace and international cooperation. More than 5 km long, the city walls enclosing the charming medieval town of Città Alta, the oldest part of Bergamo, has become a treasure for all mankind. But how was it possible to achieve this great result? Let's find out together!
The Venetian walls: in defence of culture
The Venetian walls date back to the medieval period. The Venetian Republic, which dominated the territory of Bergamo at the time, demanded the construction of a grandiose work, visible even from afar. Today, this construction is part of a much larger project that goes beyond national borders. The project is called 'Venetian Defence Works between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Land State - Western Sea State'. and encompasses no less than six fortified works located in Italy, Croatia and Montenegro.
In particular, these are extraordinary and wonderful constructions, the result of the hard work of the people who lived in these parts of Europe. In Italy we find the fortified cities of Bergamo, Peschiera del Garda and Palmanova. On the Dalmatian coast, the defence system of Zadar, the Fort of St Nicholas and the fortified town of Kotor.
The city walls of Bergamo: a work of ingenuity and beauty
Unesco therefore recognises the importance and beauty of the military defence works built to counter both pirate raids and attacks by land. It also enhances those city walls that were able to halt the expansionist aims of the great European powers. These military garrisons are magnificent examples of ars fortificatoria and reference models for military construction of the time. The models were later exported to other parts of the world.
The Venetian walls of Bergamo are therefore an imposing defensive system and represent an important piece of our country's history. A cultural legacy that we must preserve and tell future generations about. It is a trace of our past that Unesco is committed to protecting and promoting today. the historical and cultural value. To find out which architectural works have recently become part of theUnescowe recommend you visit the official site: Unesco Heritage
