The Bastion of Santa
Maria
The bastion of Santa Maria was planned by the military engineer Pietro
Antonio Tomasello. Its construction was assigned, in April 1529, to the master
builder Simone Messina with 9 skilled workers and 22 labourers. A further 24 labourers
were also involved in the preliminary excavations for the construction of the
foundations that were completed by October 1529.
The bastion, completed in around 1537, is a structure built on 5 levels.
The first, and lowest, is hidden within the foundations. This is the countermine (“contromina”), a low
ceilinged tunnel – too low for an average man to walk upright – that follows
the perimeter of the bastion. In case of siege, soldiers would wait patiently
in the countermine listening out for any sign of enemy digging. To attack the
bastion, the enemy, in fact, would secretly have to dig an underground tunnel (mine) in order to approach the
foundations where it would then place powerful explosives capable of bringing
down the imposing walls. An efficient system of ducts (known as catùsi), that led from the floor on the next
level of the bastion to the ceiling of the tunnel, created by the engineer Tomasello, could neutralise
an enemy attack if they entered the tunnel. Defence soldiers would pour asphyxiating
substances, capable of killing any invaders, into the ducts.
The next, or second, level of the bastion, is a long room (galleria) containing the duct apertures
and which, in 1616, was used as a cannon foundry. This area, which also contained
a cannon emplacement (cannoniera), is
currently inaccessible, as is the tunnel below, since the entrances to both
have been walled. The three adjoining rooms on the third level, on the other
hand, are open to visitors. These were used to store supplies and ammunition
and as a prison. There are also two cannon emplacements and overhead air vents
necessary for releasing the smoke produced by the artillery and for
illumination. An iron staircase leads to the fourth level and the ancient
cathedral of Santa Maria, of which only the triumphal arch survives, and from
which the bastion takes its name. The terraces also contained cannon
emplacements used to defend Milazzo from attacks from the sea.
The bastion of S. Maria seen from the north. At
its base (on the left of the photo) a military outpost, built in 1605, can be
seen, partially hiding the round outline of the bastion.
The bastion showing the various levels and the hypothetical
reconstruction of the countermine (“contromina”) within the foundations, currently
inaccessible.
1. entrance to the fortified town - 2. galleria - 3. cisterns - 4. court yard - 5. bastion of S. Maria: third level - 6. ancient cathedral of S. Maria - 7. cannon emplacements (cannoniere) - 8. military outpost built in 1605 - 9. foundry - 10. foundry ravelin
The dark, gloomy room (galleria) on the second level
of the bastion with the ducts (“catùsi”) that, from the floors, reach the
tunnel below: