Palmanova City Fortress
The only example of a city of foundation still intact in its form of a nine-pointed star, Palmanova is one of the most important models of military architecture in the modern age, with its star plan formed by three concentric walls, two of them built by the Serenissima Republic of Venice made up of nine bulwarks and nine ravelins and a third, the most external, made up of nine “lunette”, added by Napoleon at the beginning of the 19th century. From July 9, 2017, Palmanova is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – 53rd Italian site of the list. Since 2018, one of the most beautiful borough in Italy.
The best way to explore Palmanova
With the Palmanova single ticket (€12), you can take a trip to the UNESCO-listed Fortress, including the Contromina Underground Galleries and Baluardo Donato, the Multimedia Video Room, and the Virtualift – Virtual Elevator. Open Saturdays and Sundays and during special events.
Information, opening hours, and group reservations (including weekdays): PromoTurismo FVG Tourist Infopoint – Borgo Udine, 4 Palmanova – Tel. +39 0432 924815 info.palmanova@promoturismo.fvg.it
The CONTROMINA UNDERGROUND GALLERIES, a 550-meter underground passage, offer an insight into the star-shaped city’s defense system. An immersive experience thanks to audio guides and augmented reality characters (in Italian, English, and German). A children’s itinerary and treasure hunt are also available. Visitors can then ascend the Donato Baluardo through the Sortita tunnel to the guard lodge and a panoramic viewpoint.
The VIRTUALIFT is located at Borgo Udine 4. Thanks to the innovative multimedia experience of the Virtual Lift, you can admire the starry city from the sky, from space, simulating the ascent through real videos, sound effects, and infographics made realistic by high-definition LED screens and a vibrating platform specially designed for the purpose.
The architect's Walk
Itinerary n.1 - 1,5 km - 45 min.Palmanova is one of the most successful models of “ideal fortress city” actually built. Its perfect star shape with nine points is in fact an ode to urban symmetry. The access to the city, through three gates, was designed to allow the visitor to reach directly the heart of Palmanova, Piazza Grande. Its regular hexagon shape represents the idea of design perfection at the base of the entire fortress-city.
Walk in the Bastioni Park
Itinerary n.2 - 3,5 km - 120 min.Palmanova, made in the shape of a nine-pointed star, was conceived as a real war machine for military and defensive needs. The number and size of its ramparts were determined by the range of the guns of the time. Walking in the Bastion Park allows you to observe the perfect geometry of the defensive structures and discover the tunnels that allowed the militia to move or defend the fortress.
Ring of Fortifications
Itinerary n.3 - 4,3 km - 150 min.The Bastions of the fortress offer walks suitable for families and sports lovers. Immersed in nature and history, in fact, you can walk, ride a bike, ride a horse or go north walking and discover the natural ecosystem of the Bastions Historical Park. You can also retrace the military events of the city, walk among the fortifications, admire the ramparts, rivellini, lunettes, moat and the three monumental gates.
Palmanova XR – Time travel with virtual reality.
Info, map and video: www.palmanovaxr.it/en
Embark on a fascinating journey through time and relive the atmosphere of the bastions of the Fortress in the Venetian era thanks to Virtual Reality. A series of 360 immersive stereoscopic videos faithfully recreates some moments of life along the city walls at the time of the Serenissima. If you are in Palmanova, identify and frame with your smartphone the QR codes of PalmanovaXR: so you can enjoy the panoramic videos directly on site, also by means of biocular viewers, and discover life scenes set right in the places you are visiting.