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Rocca Medievale
Rocca Medievale
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The medieval fortress of Urbisaglia was a military fortification erected by the town of Tolentino at the beginning of the 16th century. It has a trapezoidal shape with the longest side facing away from the town in order to better face potential attacks. There are four corner towers, a gate tower and a keep where the garrison Tolentino had imposed on Urbisaglia resided. Indeed, the fortress' main function, other than to control the surrounding areas, was to guard the town and to prevent any rebellious acts from the citizens of Urbisaglia, who resented Tolentino's power over them.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
57 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
34
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4
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1
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,254 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
This medieval fortress dominates the small, hill-top town of Urbisaglia and can be seen from any point in the town. The 2016 earthquakes hit the fortress badly and parts of it are now heavily reinforced. It still looks formidable with its four rounded towers and heavy sloping ‘talus’ walls.
Written January 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albi
Macerata, Italy780 contributions
Aug 2023
A beautiful medieval fortress in the heart of the town of Urbisaglia. The fortress was built as a military fortification at the beginning of the sixteenth century, incorporating the remains of previous medieval structures. Beautiful and well preserved.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,254 contributions
May 2022
The fortress is the main attraction within the walls of the small, hilltop town of Urbisaglia. It’s built around a 12th century watchtower but most of the fortress that we see here today was built during the 15th -16th centuries, over the top of older fortifications and ancient Roman walls.
The fortress, its 4 towers and the surrounding ditch look mighty impressive from outside but it’s not a castle, so there’s not that much to explore once you go inside.
The best part is climbing up and walking around the ancient patrol walkways.
The view is stunning. Immediately, you can understand why the fortress was built right at this spot. You can see for miles over the surrounding countryside. Good luck trying to sneak up on Urbisaglia - you would be spotted before you even got close.
However it wasn’t just potential invaders that they were keeping a watchful eye on. At times, the enemy within was just as much of a threat. The Tolentinos ruled the town from the 12th century on, much to the chagrin of the the local townsfolk, and rebellion was a very real danger.
Many of the defensive features are well-preserved like the arrow slits and the distinctive fishtail-like crenellations. We could clearly see the machicolations, the strange stair like projections, sticking out near top of the tower. Looking closely, at certain angles we could see where boiling liquids and stones could be dropped onto attackers through the openings at the bottom.
Interestingly, the Eastern tower had a gabled roof. That was because it was not so much used for defence as for storage of provisions and supplies. In the case of a seige, it could become living quarters. A central cistern also existed to catch rainwater for the daily needs.
From outside, we noticed that the walls were much thicker and sloping at the bottom. These talus formations helped to shore up the wall, making it stronger and harder for attackers to undermine it. It also made it difficult for them to use siege weapons and scaling ladders. If the talus was thick enough, even a siege tower couldn’t get close enough and attackers wouldn’t be able to make a gangplank reach across the wall.
Overall, its a formidable looking fortress which has remained largely intact and is worth a visit if you’re in the area.
If you’re planning to go, the fortress is often closed. It seems to open only in the summer season from July to August. Even then, it closes in the middle of the day between 12.30 - 3.30.
Entry is very cheap - just €2.
The fortress, its 4 towers and the surrounding ditch look mighty impressive from outside but it’s not a castle, so there’s not that much to explore once you go inside.
The best part is climbing up and walking around the ancient patrol walkways.
The view is stunning. Immediately, you can understand why the fortress was built right at this spot. You can see for miles over the surrounding countryside. Good luck trying to sneak up on Urbisaglia - you would be spotted before you even got close.
However it wasn’t just potential invaders that they were keeping a watchful eye on. At times, the enemy within was just as much of a threat. The Tolentinos ruled the town from the 12th century on, much to the chagrin of the the local townsfolk, and rebellion was a very real danger.
Many of the defensive features are well-preserved like the arrow slits and the distinctive fishtail-like crenellations. We could clearly see the machicolations, the strange stair like projections, sticking out near top of the tower. Looking closely, at certain angles we could see where boiling liquids and stones could be dropped onto attackers through the openings at the bottom.
Interestingly, the Eastern tower had a gabled roof. That was because it was not so much used for defence as for storage of provisions and supplies. In the case of a seige, it could become living quarters. A central cistern also existed to catch rainwater for the daily needs.
From outside, we noticed that the walls were much thicker and sloping at the bottom. These talus formations helped to shore up the wall, making it stronger and harder for attackers to undermine it. It also made it difficult for them to use siege weapons and scaling ladders. If the talus was thick enough, even a siege tower couldn’t get close enough and attackers wouldn’t be able to make a gangplank reach across the wall.
Overall, its a formidable looking fortress which has remained largely intact and is worth a visit if you’re in the area.
If you’re planning to go, the fortress is often closed. It seems to open only in the summer season from July to August. Even then, it closes in the middle of the day between 12.30 - 3.30.
Entry is very cheap - just €2.
Written September 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg M
Basingstoke, UK107 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We wandered into this medieval fort in Urbisaglia as we had a ticket covering this and the vast Roman ruins just outside the town (see separate review on Parco Archeologico di Urbs Salvia) and the close by abbey at Fiastra (see separate review on Abbidia di Fiastra).
Small and compact with great views from the top of the substantial walls and tower but nothing much inside except small ruins of the earlier fort.
Definitely worth a visit though, but you don’t need a huge amount of time (<1 hour) unless you want to linger over the views. Certainly value for money either as included in the €7/adult for the fort, Roman ruins and abbey, or at the €3/adult for just the fort.
Small and compact with great views from the top of the substantial walls and tower but nothing much inside except small ruins of the earlier fort.
Definitely worth a visit though, but you don’t need a huge amount of time (<1 hour) unless you want to linger over the views. Certainly value for money either as included in the €7/adult for the fort, Roman ruins and abbey, or at the €3/adult for just the fort.
Written August 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AntPerkins
Winchester, UK67 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Probably worth a visit on your way on to somewhere else, but nevertheless a beautiful castle. STUNNING views! We couldn’t go up the tower as it was damaged from the 2016 earthquake.
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tangobangomango
Beaufort, SC547 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
The Rocco commands an excellent view of the town of Urbisaglia and the surrounding countryside. There is not a lot to see in the structure itself, but the fee is small and the experience is worth it.
Written January 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sofia
9 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Visited this place at the start of the summer season, so were one of the only tourists around. Lovely views of the surrounding countryside!
Written July 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2xofus
Katoomba, Australia438 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
We've now worked out that many historical monuments are only open on the week end and possibly in the morning. The ticket to the fort is purchased in several combinations with all Urbisaglia monuments. Either inside
use the fort itself up the stairs our at the Roman ruin site next to the main route 78. This fort is well preserved and impressive engineering structure.
Little earthquake damage compared to other similar forts in Marche.
use the fort itself up the stairs our at the Roman ruin site next to the main route 78. This fort is well preserved and impressive engineering structure.
Little earthquake damage compared to other similar forts in Marche.
Written June 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael M
Galicia, Spain236 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
From the outside that is. I couldn't visit the interior as I guess winter isn't the best time. The whole town is a medieval wonder, though and well worth a visit.
Written February 9, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MauryKla M
Province of Rome, Italy904 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Very very beautiful with the church leaning against its walls. Imposing with the four perimeter towers and the soaring square keep. The interior can be visited for a tour of the walls.
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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