The spada da lato (Italian) or side-sword is a type of sword popular in Italy during the Renaissance. It is a continuation of the medieval knightly sword, and the immediate predecessor, or early form, of the rapier of the early modern period. Side-swords were used concurrently with rapiers as well, particularly for military applications, although differentiating swords between civilian and military use was not something that was done in the period when a soldier had to arm himself. Its use was taught in the Dardi school of Italian fencing and others, and was influential on the classical rapier fencing of the 17th century.[1] The equivalent Spanish term, espada ropera ("dress sword") is seen as the origin of the term rapier, although this is disputed.[2] Italian antiquarians use the term spada da lato for rapiers typical of the period of c. 1560 - 1630, the Italian term for the fully developed rapier of the later 17th century is spada da lato striscia, or just spada striscia "strip-sword".,[3] but the term rapier or rapiera is also used in modern Italian.
