RESEARCH

The research activity led by Davide Tansini concerns the fortified and military architecture and the local history of the Middle and the Modern Ages, with particular reference to the ancient State of Milan.
All this aims at recognizing, studying and bringing out the cultural ‘heritage’ represented by the ancient fortified works and by the local history: ‘heritage’ which belongs to all people.

Berceto (Parma, Italy).
Castle [Castello].
Courtyard.
2009.
Digital filing (2009-02102).

Fortified and military architecture

The study in fortified and military architecture led by Davide Tansini concerns all the forms through which this particular culture expressed itself during the Middle and the Modern Ages: castles, towers, rocche, fortresses, town walls, forts, bastioned fronts and places.
The main investigation ‘field’ concentrates on the northern Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany and Veneto), with specific interest in realizations generated in the ancient State of Milan (XIV-XVIII Century), that’s in the territories included among Lombardy, eastern Piedmont, western Veneto, Ticino, Emilia and Lunigiana.
Besides the attention devoted upon vaster and more known fortified complexes, not negligible’s also that upon minor, transformed, ruined or no longer whole structures, which sometimes revelate themselves as significant historic-architectonical findings.
For each examined monument Davide Tansini supports the archivistical-bibliographical inquiry with the direct observation of the architectonical works, through inspections as close and complete as possible.
This working stage’s integrated by the acquisition of on-the-spot photographic shots and by their filing (Image and memory [Immagine e memoria] project). The collection isn’t an end in itself, but it has a dual vocation: study and divulgation instrument for the present, evidence for the future.

• Cremonese’s castles and fortifications
  Object: the fortified, defensive and security works built from the Middle to the Contemporary Ages in the territory of Cremona or connected to it.
  Period: X-XIX century.
  Localization: Acquanegra Cremonese (Cremona), Agnadello (Cremona), Antegnate (Bergamo), Azzanello (Cremona), Bariano (Bergamo), Bordolano (Cremona), Camisano (Cremona), Cappella Cantone (Cremona), Cappella de’ Picenardi (Cremona), Caravaggio (Bergamo), Casalbuttano (Cremona), Casaletto Ceredano (Cremona), Casaletto Vaprio (Cremona), Casalmaggiore (Cremona), Casalmorano (Cremona), Castelgabbiano (Cremona), Castelleone (Cremona), Castelnuovo Bocca d’Adda (Lodi), Castelverde (Cremona), Castelvetro Piacentino (Piacenza), Castelvisconti (Cremona), Cicognolo (Cremona), Cingia de’ Botti (Cremona), Corte de’ Cortesi (Cremona), Covo (Bergamo), Crema (Cremona), Cremona, Crotta d’Adda (Cremona), Derovere (Cremona), Dovera (Cremona), Gabbioneta-Binanuova (Cremona), Gadesco-Pieve Delmona (Cremona), Genivolta (Cremona), Grontardo (Cremona), Grumello Cremonese (Cremona), Guastalla (Reggio nell’Emilia), Gussola (Cremona), Isola Dovarese (Cremona), Luzzara (Reggio nell’Emilia), Maccastorna (Lodi), Maleo (Lodi), Meleti (Lodi), Montodine (Cremona), Moscazzano (Cremona), Motta Baluffi (Cremona), Mozzanica (Bergamo), Offanengo (Cremona), Olmeneta (Cremona), Ostiano (Cremona), Paderno Ponchielli (Cremona), Palazzo Pignano (Cremona), Pandino (Cremona), Persico-Dosimo (Cremona), Pescarolo (Cremona), Pessina Cremonese (Cremona), Piadena (Cremona), Pieve San Giacomo (Cremona), Pizzighettone (Cremona), Ricengo (Cremona), Rivarolo del Re (Cremona), Rivolta d’Adda (Cremona), Robecco d’Oglio (Cremona), Romanengo (Cremona), San Bassano (Cremona), San Daniele Po (Cremona), San Giovanni in Croce (Cremona), Scandolara Ravara (Cremona), Scandolara Ripa d’Oglio (Cremona), Sesto Cremonese (Cremona), Soncino (Cremona), Sospiro (Cremona), Spinadesco (Cremona), Spino d’Adda (Cremona), Stagno Lombardo (Cremona), Ticengo (Cremona), Torlino Vimercati (Cremona), Torre de’ Picenardi (Cremona), Torricella del Pizzo (Cremona), Trigolo (Cremona), Vailate (Cremona), Vescovato (Cremona) e Voltido (Cremona).
  Expected result: press publications, thematic itineraries and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated in the article «A ‘piece’ of walls, a ‘piece’ of history» [Un ‘pezzo’ di mura, un ‘pezzo’ di storia] (La Cronaca, July 24^th, 2005), and during the manifestations Pizzighettone 1706. Between Spain and Austria [Pizzighettone 1706. Fra Spagna ed Austria] (Pizzighettone, from November 3^rd to 12^th, 2006) and Oppidum Piceleonis. Viscontean fortifications in Pizzighettone [Oppidum Piceleonis. Fortificazioni viscontee a Pizzighettone] (Pizzighettone, May 10^th and 11^th, 2008).

• Lodigiano’s castles and fortifications
  Object: the fortified, defensive and security works built from the Middle to the Contemporary Ages in the territory of Lodi or connected to it.
  Period: IX-XIX Century.
  Localization: Abbadia Cerreto (Lodi), Bertonico (Lodi), Boffalora d’Adda (Lodi), Borghetto Lodigiano (Lodi), Brembio (Lodi), Camairago (Lodi), Casalpusterlengo (Lodi), Caselle Landi (Lodi), Caselle Lurani (Lodi), Castelnuovo Bocca d’Adda (Lodi), Castiglione d’Adda (Lodi), Castiraga Vidardo (Lodi), Cavacurta (Lodi), Cavenago d’Adda (Lodi), Codogno (Lodi), Comazzo (Lodi), Cornegliano Laudense (Lodi), Fombio (Lodi), Graffignana (Lodi), Guardamiglio (Lodi), Lodi, Lodi Vecchio (Lodi), Maccastorna (Lodi), Maleo (Lodi), Melegnano (Milan), Meleti (Lodi), Merlino (Lodi), Miradolo Terme (Pavia), Montanaso Lombardo (Lodi), Piacenza, Pizzighettone (Cremona), Salerano sul Lambro (Lodi), San Colombano al Lambro (Milan), San Fiorano (Lodi), San Rocco al Porto (Lodi), Sant’Angelo Lodigiano (Lodi), Somaglia (Lodi), Spino d’Adda (Cremona), Terranova dei Passerini (Lodi), Tribiano (Milan), Truccazzano (Milan), Turano Lodigiano (Lodi), Villanova del Sillaro (Lodi), Villanterio (Pavia) and Zelo Buon Persico (Lodi).
  Expected result: press publications, thematic itineraries and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestations Pizzighettone 1706. Between Spain and Austria [Pizzighettone 1706. Fra Spagna ed Austria] (Pizzighettone, from November 3^rd to 12^th, 2006), The last Pallavicino [L’ultimo Pallavicino] (Castiglione d’Adda, June 17^th, 2007), Guided tour to Fombio’s Castle [Visita guidata al Castello di Fombio] (Fombio, October 28^th, 2007), (The) Viscontean Citadel of Piacenza [(La) Cittadella viscontea di Piacenza] (Piacenza, April 20^th, 2008), Oppidum Piceleonis. Viscontean fortifications in Pizzighettone [Oppidum Piceleonis. Fortificazioni viscontee a Pizzighettone] (Pizzighettone, May 10^th and 11^th, 2008) and Castellan meetings 2010 [Incontri castellani 2010] (San Colombano al Lambro, March 21^st, 2010; Piacenza, June 2^nd, 2010).

• Codogno: the borgo and the castle
  Object: the fortifications present in Codogno between Middle Ages and Renaissance, and partially kept till XX Century’s beginning.
  Period: XI-XX Century.
  Localization: Codogno.
  Expected result: documentary exhibitions and press publications. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Castle effect. Terranova dei Passerini and Middle Ages fortifications [Effetto castello. Terranova dei Passerini e le fortificazioni medievali] (Terranova dei Passerini, October 22^nd and November 5^th, 2010).

• XIX Century fortifications in Lodigiano
  Object: the fortifications made built in Lodigiano by the Sabaudian and Italian armies during the XIX Century, subordinated to the places of Piacenza and Pizzighettone.
  Period: XIX Century.
  Localization: Maleo and San Rocco al Porto.
  Expected result: press publications and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Pizzighettone 1706. Between Spain and Austria [Pizzighettone 1706. Fra Spagna ed Austria] (Pizzighettone, from November 3^rd to 12^th, 2006).

• XIX Century fortifications in the padan duchies
  Object: the fortifications made built in Emilia, Lombardy and Tuscany by the Habsbug, Bourbon and Este armies during the XIX Century.
  Period: XIX Century.
  Localization: Aulla (Massa-Carrara), Berceto (Parma), Brescello (Reggio Emilia), Busana (Reggio Emilia), Piacenza and San Rocco al Porto.
  Expected result: thematic itineraries, documentary exhibitions and press publications.

• Viscontean fortifications in Pizzighettone
  Object: the fortification work made built in Pizzighettone at the Castle, the northern town walls, the Becco Bastion, the Cremona Gate’s Ravelin and the Bissone Bastion by the Visconti family of Milan between Late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
  Period: XIV-XV Century.
  Localization: Pizzighettone.
  Expected result: press publications, thematic itineraries and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Oppidum Piceleonis. Viscontean fortifications in Pizzighettone [Oppidum Piceleonis. Fortificazioni viscontee a Pizzighettone] (Pizzighettone, May 10^th and 11^th, 2008).

• San Bassano’s castles
  Object: the fortalice structures present in San Bassano between Middle Ages and Renaissance by the sides of the Serio Morto Drain.
  Period: XII-XVI Century.
  Localization: San Bassano.
  Expected result: thematicitinerarî tematici, documentary exhibitions and press publications.

• Castiglione d’Adda’s Castle
  Object: the so-called Pallavicino-Serbelloni Castle of Castiglione d’Adda and the fortifications events of the territory of Castiglione from Early Middle to Modern Ages.
  Period: X-XVI Century.
  Localization: Castiglione d’Adda.
  Expected result: press publication, thematic itineraries and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation The last Pallavicino [L’ultimo Pallavicino] (Castiglione d’Adda, June 17^th, 2007).

• The Fort of Saint Peter
  Object: the defensive stronghold made built among Pizzighettone, Maleo and Cavacurta near the Oratory of Saint Peter’s Mortini by the Habsburg family between the XVII and the XIX Century.
  Period: XVII-XIX Century.
  Localization: Maleo.
  Expected result: press publication and documentary exhibition. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Pizzighettone 1706. Between Spain and Austria [Pizzighettone 1706. Fra Spagna ed Austria] (Pizzighettone, from November 3^rd to 12^th, 2006).

• Piacenza’s Farnesian Citadel
  Object: the fortalice remains and the historic-architectonical course of the so-called Farnesian Castle [Castello Farnesiano], defensive stronghold made built from 1547 by the Duke of Piacenza and Parma Peter Louis Farnese between the present Civil Hospital and the old Military Hospital, and now part of Italian Army’s Northern Heavy Maintenance Hub.
  Period: XVI-XIX Century.
  Localization: Piacenza.
  Expected result: press publication and documentary exhibition. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Castellan meetings 2010 [Incontri castellani 2010] (Piacenza, June 2^nd, 2010).

• The yard of Rovedaro
  Object: the fortalice remains and the historic-architectonical successions from Modern to Contemporary Ages of the Cascina Rovedaro, placed between Castiglione d’Adda and Codogno.
  Period: XVII-XIX Century.
  Localization: Terranova dei Passerini.
  Expected result: press publication and documentary exhibition.

• Piacenza’s Viscontean citadels
  Object: the defensive strongholds made built in Piacenza beside the present Farnese Palace, Santa Maria di Campagna’s Church and the old Military Hospital by the Visconti family of Milan in the Trecento.
  Period: XIV Century.
  Localization: Piacenza.
  Expected result: press publications, thematic itineraries and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation (The) Viscontean Citadel of Piacenza [(La) Cittadella viscontea di Piacenza] (Piacenza, April 20^th, 2008).

• Romagnese’s fortifications
  Object: the remains and the historic-architectonical successions from Middle to Modern Ages of Romagnese’s fortalices, in the Tidone Valley basin part of the Oltrepò Pavese.
  Period: XII-XVIII Century.
  Localization: Romagnese (Pavia).
  Expected result: thematic itineraries, documentary exhibitions and press publications.

• Monterosso al Mare: rocca, castle and borgo
  Object: the remains and the historic-architectonical successions from Middle to Modern Ages of Monterosso al Mare, placed in Liguria, in the Riviera di Levante, part of the Cinque Terre.
  Period: XIII-XVIII Century.
  Localization: Monterosso al Mare (La Spezia).
  Expected result: thematic itineraries, documentary exhibitions and press publication.

• Rocca Lanzona
  Object: the remains of the so-called Castle of Roccalanzona on the homonym rock between Medesano (Parma) and Varano de’ Melegari (Parma), inhabitated from the Middle to the Modern Ages and placed along the Maria Longa Road among the valleys of Ceno, Dordone and Taro torrents.
  Period: XI-XVII Century.
  Localization: Medesano.
  Expected result: press publication.

• San Colombano al Lambro
  Object: the Middle Ages fortified complex placed on the Colli Banini between the Lambro and Po rivers, tripartite in Rocca, Castle and Ricetto.
  Period: XI-XVIII Century.
  Localization: San Colombano al Lambro.
  Expected result: thematic itinerary, documentary exhibition and press publication. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation Castellan meetings 2010 [Incontri castellani 2010] (San Colombano al Lambro, March 21^st, 2010).

Castiglione d’Adda (Lodi, Italy).
Castle (Pallavicino-Serbelloni Castle [Castello-Pallavicino Serbelloni]).
Northern corner.
2009.
Digital filing (2009-00180).

Local history

In historic-local ambit Davide Tansini examines the themes relative to the ancient State of Milan, understood as political, territorial, economical, cultural and social entity.
The research concentrates on the territories included in the present countries of Cremona, La Spezia, Lodi, Parma and Piacenza. Within these last, they distinguish themselves with particular conspicuousness the studies led about specific areas: Castiglione d’Adda, Piacenza and Pizzighettone.
Closely combined to the historic-local themes it’s the inquiry on the history of the fluvial navigation along the Adda and the Po. Also in dealing with this topic the interest period concerns the Middle and the Modern Ages.
The working method adopted by Davide Tansini for the historic-local analysises lies above all in finding and studying both archivistic-bibliographical documentations and other historical monuments of the territory, and in collating the results of that researches.
As for the fortified architecture, the results of the researches are destined to a divulgation carried out after various times and ways, including the cooperation with associations, boards and institutions.

• Adda and Po: history of the fluvial navigation
  Object: the history of the fluvial navigation along Adda and Po from the Early Middle to the Contemporary Ages.
  Period: VIII-XIX Century.
  Localization: Abbadia Cerreto, Bertonico, Boretto (Reggio Emilia), Brescello, Calendasco (Piacenza), Camairago, Caorso (Piacenza), Casaletto Ceredano (Cremona), Casalmaggiore (Cremona), Caselle Landi, Castelnuovo Bocca d’Adda, Castelvetro Piacentino (Piacenza), Castiglione d’Adda, Cavacurta, Cavenago d’Adda, Colorno (Parma), Cornovecchio (Lodi), Corno Giovine (Lodi), Corte Palasio (Lodi), Credera Rubbiano (Cremona), Cremona, Crotta d’Adda (Cremona), Dosolo (Mantua), Formigara (Cremona), Gerre de’ Caprioli (Cremona), Gombito (Cremona), Gualtieri (Reggio Emilia), Guardamiglio, Guastalla (Reggio Emilia), Gussola (Cremona), Lodi, Luzzara (Reggio Emilia), Maccastorna, Martignana di Po (Cremona), Meleti, Mezzani (Parma), Monticelli d’Ongina (Piacenza), Montodine (Cremona), Motta Baluffi (Cremona), Motteggiana (Mantua), Orio Litta (Lodi), Piacenza, Pieve d’Olmi (Cremona), Pizzighettone, Polesine Parmense (Parma), Ripalta Arpina (Cremona), Roccabianca (Parma), Rottofreno (Piacenza), San Daniele Po (Cremona), San Martino in Strada (Lodi), San Rocco al Porto, Santo Stefano Lodigiano (Lodi), Senna Lodigiana (Lodi), Sissa (Parma), Somaglia, Spinadesco (Cremona), Stagno Lombardo (Cremona), Suzzara (Mantua), Torricella del Pizzo (Cremona), Turano Lodigiano, Viadana (Mantua), Villanova sull’Arda (Piacenza) and Zibello (Parma).
  Expected result: press publications and documentary exhibitions.

• Piacenza in the Viscontean Age
  Object: the historical course of Piacenza between the Trecento and the Quattrocento, during the seignory of the Visconti family of Milan.
  Period: XIV-XV Century.
  Localization: Piacenza.
  Expected result: press publications and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation (The) Viscontean Citadel of Piacenza [(La) Cittadella viscontea di Piacenza] (Piacenza, April 20^th, 2008).

• History of Castiglione d’Adda
  Object: the historical course of Castiglione d’Adda from the Early Middle Ages to the XVIII Century.
  Period: X-XVIII Century.
  Localization: Castiglione d’Adda.
  Expected result: press publications and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated during the manifestation The last Pallavicino (Castiglione d’Adda, June 17^th, 2007).

• History of Pizzighettone
  Object: the historical course of Pizzighettone from the Late Middle Ages to the XVIII Century.
  Period: XII-XVIII Century.
  Localization: Pizzighettone.
  Expected result: press publications and documentary exhibitions. Part of the results already communicated in the articles «Saint Eusebius hermitage» [L’eremo di Sant’Eusebio] (La Nostra gente, June 2005), «A ‘piece’ of walls, a ‘piece’ of history» [Un ‘pezzo’ di mura, un ‘pezzo’ di storia] (La Cronaca, July 24^th, 2005), «Pizzighettone besieged, disputed between Bourbons and Habsburgs» [Pizzighettone stretta d’assedio, contesa tra Borboni e Asburgo] (La Cronaca, November 3^rd, 2006), «1449: intrigues, money and treasons in the castle of Pizzighettone» [1449: intrighi, denaro e tradimenti al castello di Pizzighettone] (La Cronaca, September 18^th, 2009), and during the manifestations Pizzighettone 1706. Between Spain and Austria [Pizzighettone 1706. Fra Spagna ed Austria] (Pizzighettone, from November 3^rd to 12^th, 2006), Oppidum Piceleonis. Viscontean fortifications in Pizzighettone [Oppidum Piceleonis. Fortificazioni viscontee a Pizzighettone] (Pizzighettone, May 10^th and 11^th, 2008) and Pizzighettone 1449: intrigue in the castle [Pizzighettone 1449: intrigo al castello] (Pizzighettone, May 10^th and 11^th, 2008).

Roccalanzona of Medesano (Parma, Italy).
Rocca (Castle of Rocca Lanzona [Castello di Rocca Lanzona]).
Keep.
2008.
Digital filing (2008-02200).

Davide Tansini’s contacts:

• mobile (+39) 349 2203693;

• e-mail davide@tansini.it.