Rocca di Urbisaglia
The Rocca di Urbisaglia is a 16th-century military fortification, including ruins of medieval fortifications and Roman walls.
Its imposing position, dominating the urban area and the Fiastra Valley below, suggests that the Arx or the Capitol of the Roman town Urbs Salvia was once located here.
History
The population of Urbs Salvia took refuge all around the Arx - Capitolium stronghold after leaving the town, because of the Barbarian invasions. Here the Castro de Orbesallia, ruled by the Abbracciamonte family, had its origins.During the 13th century, several members of the Abbracciamontes started to sell their part of Urbisaglia to the comune of Tolentino, who soon became the only owner of the town.
To prevent any rebellious acts from the citizens of Urbisaglia, who resented the external power over them, Tolentino asked the pope Alexander VI the permission to build a new fortress, which was already finished in 1507, when a 12 soldiers garrison was sent to guard the town.
Structure
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.Keep
It was originally a watchtower. It has undergone several reconstructions between the 12th and 15th centuries and its current height is lower than it was initially.The top, currently crowned with Ghibelline merlons, was covered with a gable roof. The entrance to the keep was at a higher level than the ground, so that the only way to enter it was through a wooden ladder which could be removed in case of danger.
Gate Tower
It was protected by the North tower and the keep and had its own musket embrasures. It once joined the fortress and the Western wall, later destroyed.The entrance to the fortress was located at a higher level than the ground and could be reached through a wooden ladder which was removed in case of danger.
Current entrance was a small door opening toward the outside of the fortress. It later became the only viable entrance after the anachronistic wooden ladder was destroyed.
West Tower
Along with the South Tower and the curtain wall connecting them, it was the external front of the fortress.It had two fire levels, the first one on the gun emplacement at the top, which was protected by merlons and embrasures, and the second one at ground level in the casemate with a reconstructed barrel vaulted ceiling and three embrasures.
South Tower
Facing enemy territory, it was the fortified tower with the highest exposure to risk.Similarly to the West Tower, it has two fire levels. Roman remains from Urbs Salvia are still visible at its base.