Description of the attraction
The city of San Marino was fortified and protected by three belts of fortress walls, erected at different times. The first belt (around the fortification of Guaita) included the outer walls of the fortress and stretched to the crest of the rock, where the ancient church of Pieve towered. Within this belt there were ancient cisterns, the so-called "ditches", which served for water supply.
The second belt was already in operation at the beginning of the 14th century, but was built in parts: the oldest part, dating back to the 13th century, surrounded the city, including the modern square of the Government Palace (Chesta fortress). From the upper platform of the fortress, a magnificent view of the surroundings opens up to the Adriatic coast.
With the growth and expansion of the city, most of the ancient walls were destroyed. Until the end of the 50s of the twentieth century, there was a prison in the ancient walls of the fortification, later the city authorities set up a museum here. During national holidays, ancient cannons are fired from the bastions.
The five-sided fortress Montale, built much later, stands a little separate, surrounded by forest. The entrance to the tower is now closed.
The Gates of San Francesco, also called Gates del Loco, was built in 1361 and served as a sentry post. They were completely rebuilt in 1451 and then restored in 1581 when the outer gate was built. The original opening of the gate was raised with the construction of a crenellated tower with a machicule. The coats of arms of San Marino and the Feltresca family are embossed on the inside of the gate.
The gates of della Rupe, or as they are also called, the Gates of degli Omerelli, were built in 1525; subsequent restoration was carried out in 1589. Artillery pieces were located in a spacious fortification tower of rectangular shape. On the platform in front of the gate rises a smaller round tower, which in ancient times served as a powder store, and later turned into a windmill.
