Castle of Roccascalegna

Castle of Roccascalegna is majestically perched high on a rocky mountain with an incredible view over the surrounding valley. Founded by the Lombards in 1160, the castle had two functions: controlling the underlying Valle del Rio Secco and defense from the Byzantine arrival on the Adriatic coast. The castle spent its history alternating in phases of bustling importance and abandonment. The first restoration, after a period of abandonment, was carried out in 1525 and then the castle fell back into a period of darkness until 1705 when it was restored again before back into abandonment for another hundred years. Today, the fortress can be visited and accessed from the center of the village through a staircase where you can still see the remains of the old drawbridge. (Roccascalegna, Italy)