Farnesiane Walls, Piacenza

Farnesiane Walls (Mura Farnesiane) in Piacenza are part of the city's fortifications of the Renaissance. The surviving fortifications have a considerable length, covering a part of the city with a semicircle. This makes Piacenza one of the few Italian cities surrounded by a wall in the present time.

City walls

By the beginning of the 16th century, the old defensive system of many cities had become obsolete, since artillery troops of the clan were rapidly developing. Therefore, in 1525, Pope Clement VII ordered a project for the construction of new walls from the leading architects of the time. The new system of fortifications was developed by engineer Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Construction lasted for more than 20 years, and was completed in 1547. Then the Duke Pier Luigi Farnese was the ruler, and the walls were named in his honor.

As a result, we got a half-ring with a length of 6.5 km, protecting the city from the west, north and east. At the time of construction, the fortifications had 5 gates, 9 bastions and 11 towers 15-18 meters high. During the rapid industrial development, since 1860, most of them were demolished.

Today, walls are an important city attraction. After the destruction of part of the fortifications and the subsequent restoration in the late 20th century, about 4.5 km of structures remained. Near the walls there is free from houses land with a width of about 1 km and it is now planted with trees and there is a park area. City sports, cultural events and music festivals are held regularly here.

How to get there

The walls encircle the city from the north side, they stretch along the streets of Via XXI Aprile, Via Alessio Tramello and Via Cardinale Maculani. In the central part of the fortifications there is a well-preserved Bastione Borghetto. Next to the last there is a stop on Via Borghetto, 163. It can be reached by buses of routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 17, CS.