Italy wanted to built new battleships according to the Dutch magazine magazine Marineblad dated 1900-1901 no. 8

An item reported that the Italian minister of navy asked for a budget of 30.000.000 for new building. A budget of 54.000.000 was approved for a period of four years making it possible to start immediately with the building of four battleships. With a displacement of 12.000 tons was their length 132 metres. The indicated horsepower of 19.000 hp was to allow a speed of 21-22 miles. The armament consisted of 2-30,5cm guns, 12-20,3cm guns and a large number of 7,6cm and 4,7cm guns and torpedo tubes. They were protected by an armoured deck over the complete length and further more a Harvey nickel steel made belt at the ends closed by armoured bulkheads.