St Francis passed through in 1213 and Dante in 1306 (Dante modelled his Purgatory on it) helping to enrich the history of the town which was controlled and fought over by the Medici and Della Rovere families, until it came under the rule of the Papal State in 1631.
The fortress, its origins being lost, was always the cause of conflict, until 1441 when Montefeltro conquered it. The structure appears to be an extension of the rock on which it sits making it hard to distinguish between nature and the hand of man. As part of the Papal State it became a harsh prison where the occultist Cagliostro ended his days. Even after the Unification of Italy the fortress was used as a prison until 1906. Today, there are many exhibitions inside. The fortress is divided into two distinct levels: at the top stands the impressive tower with an elongated shape while below two linked towers complement the building. The fort has decorative motifs of cornices and corbels. |
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