Castel Nuovo Defenses – Battlements and Cannons

Walk the edges and imagine arcs of fire — the plan starts to speak.

Table of Contents

• Reading the line
• Towers, embrasures, and angles
• Artillery context (then and now)
• Harbor interface
• Sketch and thought exercises
• Safety and etiquette on ramparts
• Mini glossary and FAQ

Reading the Line

• Tower positions create overlapping fields; blind spots are minimized by curvature.
• Embrasures negotiate angle and cover — protection for the operator, reach for the cannon.
• Sea-side orientation anticipates naval threats and moving targets.

Towers, Embrasures, and Angles

• Stand near an embrasure and look out; track how the opening widens toward the interior.
• Note vertical vs horizontal slots and how they control field of fire.

Artillery Context (Then and Now)

• Early artillery shaped wall thickness and geometry.
• Later updates adapted positions without rebuilding whole towers.
• Today, lines read as history lessons rather than active defense.

Harbor Interface

• From ramparts, trace lanes where ships would align.
• Consider wind and current: moving targets change timing of shots.

Sketch and Thought Exercises

• Draw a rough plan and shade overlapping arcs from towers.
• Mark likely approach lines and imagine how defenders might respond.

Safety and Etiquette on Ramparts

• Stay within barriers; avoid leaning over edges.
• Mind footing on worn stone; keep bags secured against wind.

Image Highlights

Mini Glossary and FAQ

Glossary

• Embrasure: splayed opening for defensive fire.
• Field of fire: area that a weapon can cover from a position.

FAQ

Bottom Line

Defense and pageantry coexist — study the former to understand the latter’s stage.