"A Barrier to the growth and salubrity of the town": the walls of Crotone between disposal and urban development

The fortifications of Crotone played a crucial role in the defensive network along the Ionian coast between Taranto and Reggio Calabria, for many centuries. Town history is represented by the sixteenth century walls of both the town and castle. The divestment of the city walls, which took place in many cities in the second half of the 19th century, also involved Crotone, following the abolition of military restrictions in 1865, which the town was subject to. No historical architectural value was attributed to the walls, and demolition was justified by priority reasons of health - backed up by a real overcrowding of the historical center - behind which lurked private interests, fed by the lure of lucrative land speculation. However, early well meaning philanthropic action was waived. The interests of the ruling class, representative of the rich land owners, prevailed. In an almost total absence of debate, the town council chose to sell most of the town walls to individuals. However, although many had already partially occupied the walls, transforming them, in some instances, partial preservation was possible. In the end, only some sections of the town walls were demolished, in addition to the gate, to build a ring road, which further highlighted the boundary between the old and new part of the town

Keywords: Crotone Fortifications Transformation Demolition

Bruno Mussari, "Una barriera allo incremento e alla salubrità del paese": le mura di Crotone tra dismissioni e sviluppo urbano in "STORIA URBANA " 136/2012, pp 165-195, DOI: 10.3280/SU2012-136006