Martinengo Bastion, at the beginning of the 21st century, was in stable condition, however, there were critical issues given its age and materials. Its low profile and massive construction was built slightly higher than the opposing counterscarp to present a small target to cannons while its arrow shape was designed to prevent areas of shelter at its base and protect the ditch and bastions on either side. The bastion is a significant example of state-of-the-art renaissance military architecture and is one of the few remaining in the Levant. It was here that the Venetians constructed the Martinengo Bastion in the 16th century. The northwest corner of the fortifications, facing inland, was one of the most critical elements in the defensive network of the city. The city prospered with an influx of merchants, and this was reflected in the building of numerous churches, palaces, and fortifications to protect the city. Famagusta, with its natural harbor on the east coast, was the ideal location for this trade as it was centrally located between Asia, Africa, and Europe. Europe wanted goods being delivered from the Levant - cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg as well as commodities such as wheat and cotton. Famagusta, Cyprus was at the center of Eastern Mediterranean trade between the 13th to 15th centuries.
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