The first news about the Rocca Maggiore dates back to 1174, when it was rebuilt following the conquest of Assisi by the imperial troops led by Christi ... More
The first news about the Rocca Maggiore dates back to 1174, when it was rebuilt following the conquest of Assisi by the imperial troops led by Christian of Mainz (1174); but perhaps it already existed in the Lombard era. It is therefore probable that – on the remains of a pre-existing fortification – the fortress was rebuilt by the Swabians, as a feudal castle: it is also said that Frederick of Swabia – the future emperor Frederick II – stayed there in his youth, a guest of Corrado Lutzen.
The fortress stands out on the hill overlooking Assisi: above its walls stands the Maschio, from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city and the Umbrian Valley, from Perugia to Spoleto. Since ancient times, the place where the fortress stands was considered sacred and essential to the defense of the town.
In 1198 the castle was destroyed following a popular revolt to prevent it from falling into the hands of a papal governor: not wrongly, the people of Assisi saw in it a symbol of imperial oppression.
The fortress was rebuilt in 1365 by Cardinal Egidio Albornoz (then engaged in the submission of the main cities of the peninsula) as a sighting point: a typical example of medieval military architecture came out. Since then, the fortress was the protagonist of every attempt at conquest in alternating with the government of the city of the various lords and its defensive role increased over time with changes in the structure and with the construction of towers and bastions.
After Albornoz, the fortress was enlarged and modified by Biordo Michelotti (1395-98), Piccinino (1458), Pius II (1460), Sixtus IV (1478), Paul III (1535) and assumed a truly imposing appearance. It is tradition that the top of the hill was occupied by an acropolis since ancient times, but that it was devastated in 545 by the Gothic king Totila.
In the '600, the fortress was completely abandoned to remain almost intact until our century.
The fortress wanted by Albornoz was enlarged several times with the addition of bastions, but was devastated by the population following the unification of Italy (1859).
Today it is open to more and more visitors; from its towers offers a panorama among the widest and most evocative of all Umbria: Assisi gathered at its feet, the splendid Umbrian Valley. The evocative halls host thematic reconstructions inspired by medieval life.