David: The museum has a large collection of models of cities, bridges, etc. These were made for studying and learning (as well as for play). This is one of the most interesting pieces: it is a fortification study made over 300 years ago.
Marta: What is a fortification study?
David: It is a model of a walled city with different types of towers and bastions, designed by 18 important engineers of the time. It shows and explains how cities could be defended from attacking armies. One of those engineers was the Spaniard Sebastián Fernández Medrano.
Marta: But the models I've seen don't look much like this one. This one is golden and very shiny.
David: This model was made to teach and amuse King Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain, and other kings after him, like Ferdinand VI and Charles III. It is different from other models because it is made of very rich and valuable materials: quality woods like mahogany and ebony; metals such as bronze and silver; and ivory, too.
