Browsing by Author "Valletta, E."

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Open Access
The chain tower in Kyrenia’s harbour, Cyprus
(Universidad de Granada, Universitat Politècnica de València, Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, 2020-05) Camiz, Alessandro; Griffo, M.; Baydur, S.; Valletta, E.; Architecture; García-Pulido, L. J.; Navarro Palazón, J.; CAMIZ, Alessandro
In the Middle Ages a chain suspended between two towers defended the entrance of Kyrenia’s little harbour, like the chain across the Golden Horn in Constantinople. William de Oldenburg, who visited Cyprus in 1211 during the reign of King Hugh I, referred to Kyrenia as “a small town well-fortified, which has a castle with walls and towers”. He perceived the chain tower as part of Kyrenia’s fortification system in that time. The Byzantines had already fortified the city, but in the thirteenth century, during the Longobard war, before the siege of the city, Frederick II’s party, under the direction of Captain Philippo Genardo, improved the defences of the city. The chain tower is still visible today in the north side of the old Kyrenia harbour. It consists of an 8,15 m diameter cylindrical tower and a 1,5 m diameter pillar on top of it. The tower was supporting a chain attached on the other side to another structure. The fortifications on the north side terminated against the harbour in a square tower or bastion holding the chain to be raised and lowered by means of a windlass. The paper includes the digital photogrammetric survey of the chain tower using a structure from motion software, the historical research and the comparison with other coeval harbour defence constructions of the eastern Mediterranean.
Open Access
Image reintegration. Restoring the Palace in the Kyrenia Castle, Cyprus
(Gangemi Editore, 2019) Valletta, E.; Camiz, Alessandro; Architecture; Conte, A.; Guida, A.; CAMIZ, Alessandro
Built next to the ancient harbour the castle of Kyrenia overlooks the surrounding historical fabric as a monumental landmark. The Byzantines established a fortress in the X century; this was transformed in a crusader castle in the XIII century, and then became one of the residences of the King of Cyprus. The Venetian rule brought further substantial modifications the XVI century. The enhancement project focuses on the recognition of the artefact’s cultural value and the implicit need of its conservation. The surface consolidation is necessary to prevent the erosion of the ashlars. The project has been conceived in compliance with the principle of “authenticity of the material”, and based the reintegration of the architectural lacuna on the western facade on the philological reconstruction of the architectural elements in corten steel panels with a reversible and recognizable solution. The partial reconstruction of the portico running along the ground floor enhances the historical spatiality and redistributes the Shipwreck museum, envisaging unitary planning in order facilitate the monument’s accessibility.
Open Access
The so-called “beach tower” of Kyrenia city walls, Cyprus
(Granada: Universidad de Granada, Universitat Politècnica de València, Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, 2020-05-05) Camiz, Alessandro; Griffo, M.; Valletta, E.; Architecture; Navarro P. J.; García-Pulido, L.J.; CAMIZ, Alessandro
The so-called “beach-tower” is the smallest of the three remaining towers belonging to the Kyrenia’s medieval enceinte. Semi-circular in plan, with circa 6 m of diameter, the tower is today partially obliterated by the medieval urban tissue and is visible only from one side. Built during the twelfth-thirteenth centuries, this harbour overlooking tower is raised on a pedestal in the north-west inner corner of the city walled enclosure. The tower shows on the outside two windows that might belong to a later phase, being too wide as defensive openings, and includes fragments of the adjoining city walls that ran to the east, towards the castle and to the west towards the beach city gate. Kyrenia city’s walled defensive system was dismantled by the Venetians when the use of gunpowder cannon became prevalent, however, traces and records still remain enshrined in the medieval constructions. The paper, following the historical research, attempts to date the construction of this tower, and by examining the fortification remains with a digital survey, applies the comparison with other coeval examples together with the comparative analysis of the different masonry types.