マッサマルターナの洞窟・トップ9

Bring some cash to climb the tower 😀

Rocca Sonora, the undisputed symbol of Gualdo Cattaneo.

Bogo dominating the Puglia valley, a tributary of the Tiber; very well renovated, it is surrounded by mighty fifteenth-century walls

The Rocca Borgia (or Rocca Sonora) is the true protagonist of the village of GualdoCattaneo. The direct link with a famous figure like Alessandro Borgia and its singularity on an architectural level make this building truly unique in the Umbrian defensive panorama. It was built between 1494 and 1498, designed by Francesco di Bartolomeo da Pietrasanta according to the military canons of the time, which with the advent of artillery were substantially changing the appearance of all the defensive structures. It is a triangular fortress with a central keep and two lateral walls communicating with each other through a complex system of underground tunnels.

Gualdo Cattaneo is a small medieval village perched on the slopes of the Martani Mountains in a particularly suggestive position.  The first historical information about the town dates back to the time of Emperor Otto II, who founded the castle in 975, entrusting it as a fief to the Germanic count Edoardo Cattaneo. Its perched position was militarily strategic and very often at the center of bitter disputes and domination between Foligno and Spoleto. In the main square of the village stands the mighty fortress from 1494, triangular in shape with three towers communicating with each other. The 13th century parish church is interesting. with a beautiful thirteenth-century crypt inside; the church of Sant'Agostino built in 1136 with frescoes from the Foligno school and the church of Sant'Andrea.

Castle of medieval origin with towers and walls in excellent condition Here in the 11th century a viscount normally resided with administrative powers over the territory which included numerous castles, some of which are still inhabited and others partially in ruins. Together with Colle del Marchese it was part of a territory called "Normandy", a small autonomous province within the territories of the Church. Towards the end of the 12th century the Castle was destroyed due to the wars that saw imperial and papal power pitted against each other, but at the beginning of the 13th century it was entirely rebuilt. In the second half of the 14th century, the Castle was equipped with strong walls, those that still remain almost intact, with external towers, loopholes and bomb holes.

Gualdo Cattaneo, a picturesque Umbrian village that stands on a rock, offers astonishing views of vineyards, olive groves and the majestic Sibillini mountains. Located between the Umbrian and Tiber valleys, on the foothills of the Martani mountains, this village has roots that date back to 975. The Sonoran fortress is its most significant monument. The church of Saints Anthony and Antoninus, dating back to 1260, houses the relics of the two holy martyrs and of Blessed Ugolino in its crypt. The church of Sant'Agostino, founded in 1136, originally Benedictine, features a notable crucifix from 1482. Despite the steep but short climbs, a visit to this village is absolutely unmissable.

The Rocca di Gualdo Cattaneo, also called "Dei Borgia" in honor of Pope Alexander VI, was completed in 1500 and is a triangular fortress in which each vertex corresponds to a round and truncated cone tower, intercommunicating with the others through underground walkways. It's worth coming up here to see it!