The following timeline illustrates the main phases of construction and transformation of the walls of Sabbioneta from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, as well as how these are documented on the basis of reconstructed historical information from the library of the State Archives of Mantua.
Information on the twentieth century works are documented through research at the Archives of the Municipality of Sabbioneta.
Beginning of construction, starting from the walls of the pre-existing castle towards Porta Vittoria.
Bottaccio writes to Vespasiano
“one third of the work is done”
Probable realization of Porta Vittoria.
Order to move within the walls
Nizzolio writes:
"The moat is surrounded by uncultivated areas with grass and bushes"
Work on the curtain wall from San Gallo to San Rocco begins and the bastion of Santa Maria is completed.
Contract is agreed for the construction of the Bastion of San Giorgio, commissioning bricklayers from Piacenza.
Five bastions are constructed.
Completion of the sixth bastion (San Francesco).
Completion of the curtain wall between the Bastion of Sant’Elmo and San Francesco.
Completion of the Porta Imperiale (memorial plaque).
De Dondi writes:
“In the month of April 1589 his excellency the Duke had poplars planted on all the bastions that surround the city of Sabbioneta and replaced all those that had gone missing behind the curtain walls”
Construction works begin on the covered road.
The covered road is finished.
The Austrians reopen the imperial gate and sell the state properties.
The ravellin of Porta Vittoria is built, the Porta Imperiale is walled up and the corresponding bridge is demolished.
Demolition of the castle.
Wall demolition project.
Demolition of the ramparts between the bastions of San Nicola and San Giovanni.
Demolition of the ramparts between the bastion of San Francesco and the remains of the castle.