Lorenese forts on the Tuscan coast: type, construction materials, state of preservation

The system of fortification along the Tuscany coast is made up of 160 structures, including fortified centres, individual castles, watchtowers and buildings for soldiers’ residential purposes. Built since the Middle Ages, they formed a relatively dense and effective network aimed at guaranteeing an adequate protection against possible incursions by enemy fleets. During the 18th century, the European Wars of Succession and Seven Years' War led to a further strengthening of the Tuscany fortified system with the building of fifty new structures. These include the six forts built between 1786 and 1793 at the behest of Pietro Leopoldo. They are almost totally preserved: some of them have undergone adaptive-reuse interventions, others are totally abandoned and are in a state of advanced degradation. The present contribution intends to focus on the study of the stone materials characterising these constructions. Furthermore, the state of conservation of the fortifications will be analysed, identifying the most widespread degradations in relation to both the characteristics of the materials and the environmental conditions.