Rondella delle Boccare, Venetian bastion in Verona, Italy
Rondella delle Boccare is a Venetian bastion with circular walls about 32 meters across and roughly 8 meters thick throughout. A central pillar inside supports the vaulted roof and creates space for several internal chambers within the structure.
Built between 1522 and 1525, this fortification was part of Venice's redesign of Verona's city walls to use gunpowder weapons effectively. The round shape represented a new approach to fortress design to better withstand cannon fire.
The name Boccare comes from the circular openings in the vault that once released gunpowder smoke during military operations. Visitors can still see these vents today and understand how they solved a real problem in fortress design.
The internal spaces were adapted over time for different purposes, including their use as shelters during difficult periods. Visitors should prepare for uneven floors and tight passages when exploring the interior.
Inside sits a central mushroom-shaped pillar, an unusual architectural feature that shows how innovative Venetian engineers were when designing this fortress. This uncommon design helped provide stability while keeping the interior space usable for multiple purposes.
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