Ferrara: mura civiche e trasformazioni urbane tra XIII e XV secolo

The present work intends to solve one of the most significant interpretation issues that continue to affect contemporary historiography dealing with the planimetric reconstruction of Ferrara town walls during the fourteenth century: the existence of the so-called “Addizione Adelarda”. Ultimately the study wishes to rehabilitate an investigation methodology based on the integration of multiple types of sources: material evidence of the very few remaining traces is supported by morphological studies and by the interpretation of the basic constructing fabric. Information collected from the numerous excavation sites is verified by locating the routes of drainage channels as retrieved and outlined in the maps of the XVII and XVIII centuries. Lastly, the critical analysis of document sources allows identifying exact chronological limits ante quem, with reference to each main construction stage of the town walls itself.