The building of this fortress town began at the end of the 16th century by order of the Serenissima, i.e. the Republic of Venice, with the purpose to defend the eastern border as well as protect it from the raids by the Turks and Uskoks and against the expansion of Austria.
In 1960, Palmanova was declared a national monument. This fortress town not only follows the concept of an ideal town but is also a good example of Renaissance`s military architecture. The town has a shape of nine-pointed star surrounded by three circles of fortified walls (first two Venetian, the third Napoleonic).
After the fall of the Venetian Republic and the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797), the town came under the Austrians. But not for long. It was occupied by the French in 1805. Napoleon Bonaparte had its quarters in Palmanova and that is when the third defensive wall was made. After the Napoleonic era, the town once again came under the Habsburg rule under which it stayed until 1866, when the town was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. During World War I, storehouses, supply centres and hospitals were located in Palmanova.
Since 2017, Palmanova has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Palmanova Infopoint
Borgo Udine, 4
I–33057 Palmanova (UD)
+39 0432 924815
info.palmanova@promoturismo.fvg.it
www.turismofvg.it
