La Rocca Review

Read our Umbria and the Marches sights reviews. Or post your own.

La Rocca

  • Address: Via del Ponte, Spoleto, 06049
  • Phone: 0743/223055

Fodor's Review:

Built in the mid-14th century for Cardinal Egidio Albornoz, this massive fortress served as a seat for the local pontifical governors, a tangible sign of the restoration of the Church's power in the area when the pope was ruling from Avignon. Several popes spent time here, and one of them, Alexander VI, in 1499 sent his capable teenage daughter Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519) to serve as governor for three months. The Gubbio-born architect Gattapone (14th century) used the ruins of a Roman acropolis as a foundation and took materials from many Roman-era sites, including the Teatro Romano. La Rocca's plan is long and rectangular, with six towers and two grand courtyards, an upper loggia, and inside some grand reception rooms. In the largest tower, Torre Maesta, you can visit an apartment with some interesting frescoes. A small shuttle bus gives you that last boost up the hill from the ticket booth to the entrance of the fortress. If you phone in advance, you may be able to secure an English-speaking guide.

  • Cost: EUR 6.50
  • Open: Mid-Mar.-early June and mid-Sept.-Oct., weekdays 10-noon and 3-6:30, weekends 10-7; early June-mid-Sept., daily 10-7; Nov.-mid-Mar., weekdays 10-noon and 3-5, weekends 10-5
Find more sights in Umbria and the Marches »

Member Reviews and Ratings

Be the first to review this property

Get Advice From Other Travelers

Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip



Get the Fodor's Newsletter

For more travel ideas, tips, and deals, sign up for the Fodor's newsletter here. Read the current issue. Browse previous issues.




Copyright © 2009 Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc.