Le fortificazioni militari costiere in Terra d'Otranto tra XV e XVI secolo

The Apulia region was overwhelmed by the aggression of the Turks in Otranto in 1480. This event started a safety of all the coastal defenses of Salento. It is easy to see that the coastal fortifications in Terra d'Otranto, had become obsolete, especially for new attack systems based on the use of heavy mortars. The episode of Otranto led to fortify the castles of Brindisi and Taranto. To all this, was added, the landing of the Venetians in Gallipoli by 1484. In Taranto the fortification works, subsidized by the Royal Court, started from 1481. In Brindisi, the first nucleus of the Aragonese castle, built on the end of the island of Saint Andrew was grafted the extension of the Duke of Calabria. In Gallipoli, however, the Angevin castle, had already been restored, before the coming of Francesco di Giorgio, but the landing of the Venetians persuaded the Duke of Calabria also have involved here in the senese architect. Simultaneously with the beginning of work of Gallipoli in 1492, it was renovated the Otranto's fortress.