Rocca di Urbisaglia Photo: Rocca di Urbisaglia

Rocca di Urbisaglia is a military fortress of the 16th century in the town Urbisaglia in the Italian region Marche, in which also are the ruins of medieval and ancient fortified walls. Its advantageous geographical location, dominant over populated area and the river valley of Fiastra, suggests that once this place was the citadel of the Roman city of Urbs Salvia. And when the city was attacked by the barbarians, the population took refuge in the citadel.

In the 13th century the family of Abbracciamento that ruled in Urbisaglia, gradually started to sell their ownership to the municipality of Tolentino, and soon the whole town was at the mercy of the latter. In order to prevent riots among the inhabitants of Urbisaglia, Tolentino appealed to the Pope Alexander VI with a request to build a new fortress. Permission was granted, and in 1507, the year on the site of the ancient citadel grew up in new castle. At the same time the garrison took up the first 12 soldiers.

Rocca di Urbisaglia has a trapezoidal shape, a long wall which faces in the opposite side of the city to protect it from possible attacks. In the corners there are four towers, there is also a travel and watchtower. The latter was originally an observation tower. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, it underwent significant changes, and its current height is 24 meters is lower than was originally. The top of the tower, crowned with Ghibelline battlements, once had a gable roof, and the only entrance to it was possible via a wooden staircase, which was cleaned in case of danger. A gate tower was protected by the North tower and the donjon and had his own musket embrasures. The South tower was the most fortified, because he was facing from the town and if attacked first would have been subject to fire. It is at the base of this tower has traces of a Roman defensive wall. In the East tower, located inside the walls of the fortress, was used to store food and military equipment, and in the case of the siege of the castle could be used as living space.

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