Pietro Paolo Floriani

Who was Pietro Paolo Floriani?

Pietro Paolo Floriani was an Italian engineer and architect. He designed many military and theatrical buildings. Historically, he is a key figure in his native town of Macerata and throughout the region of the Marche, thanks to his adventurous life as a man of arms, literary figure and military architect. In 1654 he wrote a treatise on the art of war and fortification. In addition, two of his annotated manuscripts from the Compagnoni Floriani di Macerata with sketches of theatrical scenes reveal him as a multifaceted personality of his time.

Besides fortifications built in Italy and in Northern Europe for Pope Urban VIII, the King of Spain and the emperor Ferdinand II, he also designed the fortification walls on the south side of Valletta, the capital city of Malta. A new settlement, named Floriana, was built inside the fortifications, and named in honor of the engineer.

He died at Ferrara.