This vCard is For Sale, Buy it for: $4,00

Manin Fort

Manin Fort is located just outside the town of Mestre, in the San Giuliano Park area of Venice. It was built in the early 1800s. Main armament: During the events of 1848-49 it was armed with twelve guns, two of which were 18, two 12, and six 6 and a 6 howitzer. Background: It was built by the French (with the name of Forte Eau) at the same time as Forte Marghera (it was considered an ancillary work).

In 1849 the commander of the fort was the artillery captain Andreasi, an excellent young man and brave. On August 15, 1848, the Austrians fired against Marghera and Eau Fort with the usual field pieces and always from afar.

On 18 May 1849 an Austrian column moved against Fort Manin, but its defenders, armed with weapons, went on their way, and protected by the cannon of the fort, forced it to retreat. On days 19 and 20, the besiegers began a lively musket fire against the outposts.

Also in May 1849 the Austrians built batteries on the other end of the mainland, to the right of the fort, against Fort Manin or that of San Giuliano, and to harass communication with Venice.

Then the Andreasi with thirty gunners and some rocket machines made an admirable sortie. He went under the Austrian batteries and throwing rockets into them, made the enemy withdraw. After 1849 the Austrians renamed it with the name of Fort Gorzhowsky.

Until the end of the nineteenth century it remained armed, then it became only a powder magazine. Nothing remains of the nineteenth-century buildings. Only the new reinforced concrete buildings are present. It is now included in the San Giuliano Park project but in the meantime it is in a state of neglect.

Map: Manin Fort