City walls and gates (City walk) description and photos - San Marino: San Marino (Topic)

City walk description and photos - San Marino: San Marino. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is City walk.

Photo and description

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 were ancient cisterns, the so-called `` ditches '', which served for water supply.

The second belt was already in operation at the beginning of the XIV century, but was built in parts: the oldest part, dating back to the XIII century, surrounded the city, including the modern square of the Government Palace (Cesta 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 shoot 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 Gate of San Francesco, also called the Gateway del Loco, built in 1361, served as a guard post. They were completely rebuilt in 1451 and then renovated 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 Gate della Rupe, or, as they are also called, the Gate of degli Omerelli, was built in 1525; subsequent restoration was carried out in 1589. Artillery pieces were located in a spacious rectangular fortress tower. 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.

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Topic: City walls and gates (City walk) description and photos - San Marino: San Marino.