Emilia Romagna Castles

Verucchio joins the Night of Fortresses - Night of Fortresses, the result of the European project FORTITUDE, focused on the development of sustainable cultural tourism and linking more than 50 sites in 8 countries and 40 cities, including coastal and inland fortresses, castles, museums, galleries and fortified towns.

On Friday 8 May from 15.00 to 18.30, the visit to the medieval monument will be free of charge.

The aim is to make visitors aware of sustainable tourism and practices and to encourage active participation in the protection of the environment and cultural heritage.

One of the largest and best-preserved of the Malatesta fortifications, the Malatesta Fortress of Verucchio, built around the year 1000 and reinforced by Sigismondo Malatesta in 1449, affords a view sweeping from the Adriatic to the highest peaks of the Apennine ridge.
Inside, it preserves the imposing Malatesta family tree, the two courtyards, the rooms of the Baronial Palace and the Mastio Tower from which one can admire the stupendous landscape of the Marecchia Valley.

The town of Verucchio, located at the centre of the important strategic system of control of the territory by the Malatesta family, was the birthplace of 'il Mastin Vecchio' Malatesta da Verucchio, the founder of the family known as 'il centenario' (the centenarian) who conquered Rimini in 1295, remembered by Dante in the Divine Comedy: " 'l mastin vecchio e 'l nuovo da Verrucchio, / che fecer di Montagna il mal governo, / là dove soglion fan d'i denti succhio" (The Old Mastiff and the New Mastiff from Verrucchio, who made the mountain bad government, / where they suck their teeth).
Verucchio was, in fact, a strategic garrison and bulwark against the opposing Montefeltro seigniory.
It was precisely the last great figure of the Malatesta family, Sigismondo Pandolfo, who remodelled the fortress and the town walls in the 15th century AD.

The Rocca is the venue for conferences, cultural events, shows and exhibitions.