Palazzo Vecchio, War of Pisa “Taking of the Fortress of Stampace in Pisa” by Giorgio Vasari and Giovanni Battista Naldini, Hall of the Five Hundred in Florence in Italy

War of Pisa, Taking of the Fortress of Stampace in Pisa by Giorgio Vasari and Giovanni Battista Naldini, Hall of the Five Hundred Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy

Taking of Stampace Fresco - Water Pigments (7,60 x 13 metres) 1568-1571

In this fresco of the Pisa War, depicted on the western wall of the Five Hundred Hall of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, we see the assault of Florentine troops who managed to open breaches in the fortifications of the fortress of Stampace that protected the city of Pisa.

The fresco offers an overview of Pisa, as well as its surroundings, plains and hills.

Vasari shows the damage of the Florentine artillery in the walls of the fortress.

Taking of Stampace As can be seen from the fresco, the Pisans, anticipating the destruction of their fortress walls, had erected a second protective wall in the ditch surrounding the city, a division in which they had installed guns that can be seen shooting at the Florentines.

In this episode of the Pisa War of 10 August 1499, the Florentine troops, commanded by Paolo Vitelli and Rinuncio da Marciano, engulfed in the breaches created by the twenty heavy artillery pieces used for the siege.

During this attack, the surprise of the Pisan soldiers was such that most fled without any resistance.

Unfortunately, the Florentine command did not take advantage of the rout of the Pisans.

Instead of trying to take the city immediately after the destruction of this fortified enclosure, he tempered, and Pisa did not go to the Florentines until ten years later because of famine.

Paolo Vitelli, who is on the left part of the fresco inciting troops to attack, was condemned to death and beheaded for incapacity and treason for this severe tactical mistake.

Taking of Stampace