Palmanova is located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in northeastern Italy, about 70 miles east of Venice. The town is protected inside by its massive star-shaped fortress walls, a wonderful example of Late Renaissance fortressa design built by the Venetian Republic in 1593. The fortifications were included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 2017.

The unique thing about Palmanova is that the entire town and expansive piazza were built within the shape of a nine-pointed star, designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi. Between the points of the star, ramparts protrude so that the points could defend each other from attacking forces.