Rocca of Gualdo Cattaneo

Description

Construction on the Rocca of Gualdo Cattaneo (PG) began in 1494, following the military canons of the time, as the advent of artillery was substantially changing the appearance of all defensive structures, and was completed in 1500. Named for Borgia family in honor of pope Alexander VI, it is a triangular fortress with a round tower on truncated cone base at each vertex, all linked together with underground walkways. The highest tower, which rises 20m and has a base circumference of 80m, dominates the entire village; it has 5 floors which contain the housing elements necessary for the defense and residence of the garrison.

The Fortress of Gualdo Cattaneo was the last in a fortified defensive system considered to be a border "frontier" –perennially disputed by Spoleto, Todi, Foligno and Perugia – that is still dotted with towers, manors, fortresses and castles (such as San Terenziano, Grutti, Torri, Barattano or Cisterna).