Fortifications and landscape system: geological and geomorphological influences in the development of the La Spezia Gulf.

The Gulf of La Spezia, in the North-Western part of the Mediterranean coast, harbors in its profound arc a rich and complex system of fortifications, which finds in the Maritime Military Arsenal (about 1870) its propelling force. The statesmen of Napoleon for first have the idea of building a key military base in this strategic location known for its emerged and submerged geological and geomorphological characteristics. The entire gulf with its coves, islands and mountains, acts as a fortification itself. A single functional organism, in which human interventions are perfectly placed, with a balanced attitude between mimesis and transfiguration. This study aims to identify the particular moments in which the system of fortifications and urban structures end to adapt themselves to the territory asset and switch to new configurations, modifying the morfological structure of the territory and consequently the structure of the landscape. This landscape approach to the analysis and interpretation uses geology and geomorphology as fundamental tools. The fortified territory is analised in its significant transformations, making clear how them affect the resilience of the site accomplishing military aims. This transdiciplinary process will highlight how historical and social changes correspond to different approaches in land management. It is a sperimental method, which deals with landscape structure analysis, geomorfologic studies, cartographic and photographic recognitions. Using these data this research will spot on the political objectives, like the need of control and defence, showing how they reflect a precise idea of landscape. The final aim will be to point out meaningful features, the constants and the variable elements, creating the condition for an accurate re-reading. A first step necessary to bring out this fortified system from the simple perception of “imposed structure” into the correct interpretation of its being an integral part of the landscape heritage.