Michele Sanmicheli (1484 – 1559)

Italian fortress architect
Developer of the modern bastion fortress construction of the modern era

Sanmicheli was the most important master fortress builder of his time. After entering the service of the Republic of Venice in 1528, he worked on the enlargement and improvement of almost all Venetian fortifications. Under his direction, the Lido in Venice was fortified for the first time, and the fortified cities of Brescia, Bergamo and Zadar were expanded.

He continued to work in fortress construction on Crete and Corfu and realised the wonderful Porta Nuova in Verona, among other things.