Southern Tower

Southern Tower (Noon tower)

It was the most exposed tower and the weak point of the fortification systhem of the Urbisaglia castle.

Completly facing the battle field, it was equipped in order to allow two different shooting strategies to be exercised. The first disposed of four embrasures the first of which was meant to the watching of the south-eastern curtain of the fortress. The second watched that section of the castle wall which run into the tower itself (this wall no longer exists). The third embrasure housed a bombard shooting directly towards the battle field. The last embrasure watched the south-western side of the fortress. The embrasures were all of a mixed sort. Infact they were also provided with a musket loophole which allowed an arquebusier to shoot while the bombard was being recharged.

The second level of fire was exercised on the bastion, either by arquebus shielded by the merlons or by the artillery placed in the gun-embrasures at the base of the parapets (unfortunately only musket loopholes have been rebuilt during the restoration works).

Moreever from the bastion they could shoot at a long distance with the mortars or shoot directly downwards through the machicolations. Obviuosly the long-distance shooting could be exercised only if the tower had no covering. But this is doubtful because a roof, beside sheltering men, guns and powder from the storms, provided a shield from the bullets.

A loophole on a room built on the curtain was meant to reinforce the defence of the southern tower. This room was also furnished of a machicolation which was probably used as a lavatory. The loophole was on the upper part. The shots went to cross with those coming from the left embrasures of the southern tower.

The southern and western towers constituted the south-western front of the fortress. At the foot of the tower a few remainings of the old roman town of Urbisaglia are still visible.

(Abstract from maurizio Mauro, "La Rocca di Urbisaglia", Adriapress ed. Ravenna).

Regione Marche

---