The application of military treatises in the design of the Spanish fortresses in the second half of the sixteenth century: the work of the Palearo Fratino brothers

The present contribution shows some results of a PhD research, which examined the work of the Palearo Fratino brothers, military engineers in the service of Spain. Their activity, explored between 1558 and 1589, was examined in three phases: the first analyzed the design of the bulwark during the sixteenth century, the second examined the work of Palearo brothers especially in Sardinia, while the third proposed (with the support of the results obtained from the first two phases and the data offered by the post-medieval archaeological research ) digital models of projects planned and not completed or no longer exist structures in the fortified town of Alghero. The analysis of the projects, the relief of the bulwark of the fortified town of Cagliari and Alghero (Sardinia, Italy) and the survey of the fortresses of Spain and Portugal, showed the use of a formal repertory. This repertory confirmed the use of the Treaty "Della fortificatione delle città", cited by Jacopo Palearo as a reference text in the design of the bulwarks of Cagliari.