Carnpo Marzio, and another, which surpasses all the rest for size, and which is placed near the Catena, where the Adige enters the city.[1]
In Padua, San Michele constructed the Bastion called the Cornaro[2]t as he also did that named Santa Croce, both of which are of astonishing size, and are fabricated according to the method which was invented by himself; for the idea of constructing Bastions with acute angles originated with San Michele. Before his time they were made of a circular form, by which the difficulty of defending them was much increased; in the present day they have an obtuse angle on the outer side and can be readily defended, either by a cavalier erected between two Bastions near at hand, or by means of another Bastion, provided the latter be not too far distant and that the ditch have a good breadth.
The method of constructing Bastions with three squares, to the end that those on the two sides might guard and defend the ditch and the curtains, from their open embrasures, was likewise of San Michele’s invention; the large central square meanwhile defending itself at the same time that it attacks the enemy. This method has since been imitated by all, and supersedes the old manner of subterranean embrasures called casemates, in which the smoke and other impediments prevented the effectual management of the artillery, without danger of serious risk to the foundations of the towers and walls, and the certainty of greatly weakening them.
San Michele constructed two very beautiful gates at Legnago likewise, and at Pescliiera he directed the works for the first foundation of the fortress, as he did also at Brescia, watching over all that had to be done with so much diligence and such mature consideration, that no one of his buildings has ever shown a crack. Lastly this architect restored the fortress of Cliiusa above Verona,[3] and here he formed a commodious passage for the citizens, who can go through without entering the fortress, but yet not without the
- ↑ These works of San Michele were for the most part destroyed in the operations of 1801. — Förster.
- ↑ “Vasari is the first writer,” observes a compatriot of his own, “who has claimed for our Italy the honour of having originated the modern manner of fortifying cities.”
- ↑ Of this work but few traces now remain. — German Translation of Vasari.
