Vicopisano | The Brunelleschi Fortress

The Fortress of Vicopisano: Brunelleschi’s project

After the conquest of Vicopisano in 1406 under Florence, the Medici commissioned the famous architect Filippo Brunelleschi to build a new defensive structure that would be impregnable to the attacks of enemy armies.

Brunelleschi’s proposal was very innovative, while maintaining the medieval fortress typology with high crenellated walls resting on arches and loopholes to throw Greek pitch and boiling oil on the attackers. Several drawbridges were inserted into the defensive complex, which, once withdrawn, isolated the various parts of the fortress in case of enemy penetration.

Brunelleschi’s most ingenious solution, however, was the massive crenellated wall from the Rocca to the Torre del Soccorso (21 m high), near the Arno River, which at that time flowed under the walls.

This work was intended to avoid isolation in the event of a siege by ensuring the supply of food, weapons and reinforcements by river. Boats could land in a small cove, defended by fortifications that have now disappeared, unload men and powders entering through a small door, go up to the second floor of the tower to access the wall and climb up to the Rocca.