TOWERS AND FORTRESSES - MOTOVUN FORTIFICATION, 13TH - 15TH CENTURY

MOTOVUN The picturesque medieval town of Motovun, Montona in Italian, was built on the conical hill of the levelled plateau. It is characterized by a tradition of urbane features from the times of the prehistoric big town. It became a settlement in the ancient times from the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd centuries. The present-day appearance of this town-monument, an small ancient Istrian acropolis town, located atop a 277-meter high hill, with the crenellated battlements of the church bell tower (13th -15th c.) dominating the valley of the river Mirna, originates from the medieval times, from the 12th and 13th centuries. Leading up the hill of Motovun, to its Venetian town square, is the longest Istrian flight of stairs with 1052 steps. The town developed on the site of the pre-historic big town, changing feudal lords in the Middle Ages, and from 1278 to 1779 being continually ruled by the Venetians. The settlement that was adapted to the configuration of the land consists of three main parts that are separated by fortifications. All the three parts are connected by a system of external and internal fortifications with walls, towers and the town gate, built in the period between the 14th and 17th centuries. These walls have the shape of a ring and two semi-rings. The oldest circular core of the settlement is situated on the plateau of the hill, surrounded by walls originating from the 13th and 14th centuries. On the inner side, below the beltway, the walls were fortified by a range of spike-arched niches, and on prominent spots there are rectangular defence towers. This medieval town core also had the inner central gate bearing Early Gothic features from the 14th century. The belt of town walls at the top of the hill is one of the rare fortification units that have been preserved in its entire length. Within the walls there is the municipal palace, a monumental Romanesque edifice, at the foot of which there is a passage formed for the inner town gate. The palace was built in the 12th century, and it was annexed in the 16th and 17th centuries. The new gates are situated on the external square. It was built in the first half of the 16th century as a tower with Renaissance style features. On the opposite side of the same square we can find a Renaissance-Baroque lodge, a loggia, a feature of municipal life. The central (inner) square of Motovun is dominated by Sansovino-Palladian style parish church of St. Stephen (built at the beginning of the 17th century), with its medieval bell tower from the 13th century standing next to it. The bell tower was built at the same time as the original church in this spot, and in the past it served as a defence tower. Beneath the central square is the public water reservoir – a stone gorge with the town coat of arms from the 14th and 15th centuries. In the arrangement of Motovun’s narrow streets the medieval characteristic of the town has been preserved. Along the main communication line three further churches were built: Madonna dei Servi (built in 1584), St.John Baptist and Madonna delle Porte (1521) and St. Anthony di Padua (16th century. renovated in 1855). On the southern slopes of this hill, at the foot of the town walls, there is the settlement Podgrađe, while at the eastern ridge of the hill we find the new suburb. This town part was also fortified, but only a small part of it was preserved next to the southern town gate with its Gothic features.