Ars Adriatica, No. 12, 2022.
Reaction, polemic
https://doi.org/10.15291/aa.4073
The medieval Varoš of St Martin and the Renaissance Ravnice in Zadar: Should that Area Be a Resource for New Urban Programmes?
Pavuša Vežić
; University of Zadar
Abstract
The medieval Varoš of St Martin in Zadar stretched from today’s Foša to the area of Relja. It was built within the perimeters of the purported suburbium of the Roman Iadera on the mainland side of the peninsula. In the Middle Ages, the Varoš district was enclosed by ramparts. Within this area, there was a settlement with gardens and peasants’ houses, as well as a monastery and two more churches. The district of St Martin was named after one of them. However, due to the Turkish threat in the 16th century, the suburb was demolished to build the Renaissance fort named Forte, with a defensive moat. In front of it, there was a long cleared area towards the agricultural area around Zadar, the astarea. Thus, the medieval suburb was substituted by the new fortification system with a cleared area in front. It has retained most of its original width and depth to this day, as well as the name Ravnice, which explains very well the changes that occurred in the Renaissance town. However, with the intended alterations according to the concept of modern construction in the area, this historical esplanade has come to be viewed as the greatest resource for new urban programmes, with plans to build an extensive and controversial set of buildings as part of the Gate of Zadar project.
Keywords
suburb; city walls; Middle Ages; Renaissance; fort; Zadar
Hrčak ID:
289556
URI
Publication date:
29.12.2022.
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