The defensive system of the fortified citadel of Berat

UNESCO site since 2008, for its architectural features typical of the Ottoman period and as an example of peaceful coexistence between different cultures and religions, the city of Berat is divided into three main historic districts: Kala built in the walls of the old fortress, Mangalem along the hill and towards the river, Gorica beyond the Osum river nestled in the mountains.The survey campaign, included in a research which is part of a collaboration between the Department of Architecture, Construction and Design (ArCoD), the Research Unit of the Aldo Moro University of Bari and the Institute of Albanological Studies of Tirana is recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) as one of the working steps regarding the study of the fortified citadel.Thanks to a mixed survey, with a prevalence of both terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry with drones, it has been possible to accurately scan the entire defensive system of the city avoiding problems such as the inaccessibility of some location, due to very steep terrain, and the large presence of vegetation.The digital models generated and represented at different scales, were fundamental to describe the overall state of conservation, made it possible to create a digital twin of the fortress and will be a point of reference for changes and analyzes of the site over time.In reference to the digital reconstruction, it was possible to carry out a study on the defensive and war functioning of the city and it was a way to hypothetically reconstruct the military structure during the different periods in relation to the evolution and changes in armaments throughout history.