Francesco Laparelli

Francesco Laparelli (* 1521 in Cortona, † 1570 in Crete ) was an Italian engineer and architect.

Francesco Laparelli was a pupil of Michelangelo. When he took over in 1547 as the construction manager Peter 's Basilica, he transferred Laparelli the supervision.

He was also a fortress architect of Cosimo I de ' Medici. In Cortona, he built the fortress Fortezza del Girifalco Medicean o (1549-1556) and the bell tower of the Cathedral (Duomo ) St. Margherita.

In Malta already in 1558 by Bartolommeo Genga and in 1562 by Baldassare Lanci a fortress to be built. From May to September 1565 was carried out, starting from the height of Mount Sciberras, the siege of Malta by the Ottoman fleet.

End of 1565 sent Pope Pius IV († December 9, 1565 ) to Malta, where he arrived him in the last days of the year. On January 3, 1566, he presented his first report. The fortifications of Birgu, Senglea and St Elmo were so badly damaged that it would take 4,000 workers four months to build the walls back so far that they would constitute an obstacle to the enemy. He suggested, therefore, to fix the Sciberras peninsula. It was not a detailed plan, but this option seemed to be feasible in the short time available. In the next report of 10 January, he contradicted the. He feared that the Ottomans would return during construction. He therefore proposed a fortress on the height of Mount Sciberras, the area can be covered with cannons from which. On March 14, was officially decided that the new city of Valletta, named after Grand Master Jean de la Valette, to build and two weeks later, the foundation stone was laid. In June, he presented to the Grand Master presented the final plans.

Among his assistants was the Maltese Gerolamo Cassar.

1569 he left Malta. The Turks wanted to conquer Cyprus, Laparelli had the Venetians offered his services, but he died in 1570 shortly after his arrival in Crete of the plague.