Castle of Rocca Pia, Tivoli

Rocca Pia Castle in Tivoli was built in the mid-fifteenth century on the top of the hill in the town center, and it still appears to be well-preserved by now. This medieval construction towers over Tivoli symbolizing perpetuity of papal authority. The fortress consists of five round towers connected with massive walls which enclose a courtyard. Information about towers:

• The main one was 36,5 meters high; it included six rooms.
• The second one included five rooms and was 25,5 meters high.
• Two smaller ones that overlooked the center of the town were 18 meters high and included three rooms each.

One of the walls has marks of suspension bridge left on it. You might also notice traces of ditch once dug around the castle.

History of Rocca Pia Castle

Rocca Pia Castle was constructed by order of Pope Pius II to establish control over the town. The building process took only a year. The design was created by architects Niccolo and Varrone. Later on, the castle was reconstructed under the rule of Pope Sixtus IV and Pope Julius II.

In the 18th century, the papal fortress was occupied by Austrian and French forces and served as a barrack for them. Under Napoleon this place was used for prison; this lasted till 1960.

Currently, Rocca Pia Castle is closed to the public. However, there are exhibitions held here occasionally. You can still observe fortress walls up close and feel their majesty.

How to get there

You can get from Rome to Tivoli by bus. Buses that regularly stop at Ponte Mammolo will take you to Tivoli’s central square. The papal castle is located 600 meters away from it. The trip might take from 30 minutes to two hours depending on how busy roads are.

Travelling by train is, however, a more convenient way to get there. The trip will last 50 minutes. The stop you need is called Tivoli. Rocca Pia Castle is situated 800 meters away from there.