Echoes from the sea. Defensive architectures of the Mediterranean

The project explores the historical and geopolitical interactions between Italy, Spain, and Turkey during the Ottoman and Saracen incursions into the Mediterranean, focusing on defensive responses like watchtowers and coastal fortifications. It aims to analyze these structures as "imprints of memory" of the Mediterranean, particularly the architectural heritage linked to defense systems, promoting their value as part of a shared history among diverse cultures, religions, and societies. The methodology includes actions to enhance the architectural heritage of watchtowers and fortifications built along Italian, Spanish, and Turkish coasts between the Early Middle Ages and the 17th century. This will be done through a scientific approach using new digital techniques for representing historical sites, cities, monuments, and cultural landmarks. The creation of a digital twin will allow for virtual simulations of different stresses and performance responses of these structures. The research highlights the importance of these fortifications as symbols of interreligious cooperation and architectural heritage to be preserved. It reveals that the watchtowers were not only responses to raids but also the result of political alliances between European powers and the Ottoman Empire. These fortifications tell a story of resilience, cooperation, and conflict, emphasizing the need for their preservation to deepen understanding of Mediterranean history and culture. The project reinterprets the relationship between Christians and Muslims, challenging the "clash of civilizations" narrative. By promoting the watchtowers as symbols of shared history, it fosters a more complex and inclusive understanding of the past and encourages heritage preservation across borders.