Add a review of the Three Towers of San Marino

The Three Towers of San Marino stand on the three peaks of Monte Titano, in the capital, San Marino . They are depicted on the national flag and the coat of arms of San Marino . The oldest of the three towers - Guaita . She and the most famous . Guaita was built in the 10th century and used as a prison . The second tower - Cesta (or De La Friatta), it was built in the 11th century and stands on the very high summit of Monte Titano . In this tower since 1956 . a museum opened . The third tower, Montale, built in the 13th century, is at the lowest peak of Monte Titano . Unlike other towers, it is closed to the general public . Three towers - a symbol of Liberty of San Marino, and they occupy a big place in the hearts of the inhabitants of a tiny state .

Built on the cliff, without foundation, Guaita on a pentagonal based on the 10th century, although it has since been strengthened and rebuilt many times. In particular, in the second half of the 15th century, and in the 16th century the tower was covered with a tiled roof. Behind the powerful double walls of Rocca-Guaita with loopholes and corner turrets, the population sheltered during long sieges. And some parts of the structure were used as a prison until 1970.

Today the ancient weapons museum is opened in the tower of Cest, where about 535 items are collected, including armor, spears, bows, arrows, crossbows, shields, etc.

@ The Baroque coat of arms of the Republic carved from stone in the 1600s ., which could be seen at the entrance, above the gates, can now be seen in Palazzo Publico . The inner wall ends on one side with a bell tower, and on the other - a tower -pinacle; both of them were built centuries later than the fortress itself . You can climb the stairs to the upper entrance hall and it is protected by a wooden structure 1481 g . In the courtyard you can see old artillery pieces: two mortars, a gift from Vittorio Emanuele II, and two 75 -mill guns donated by Vittorio Emmanuele III, of which guardsmen shoot during national holidays .

Three towers of San Marino

The second tower stands at a height of 756 m and also has a pentagonal base. It is the castle of Cestus, in which there were several prison cells, and another garrison was located. At the end of the 16th century, when the tower lost its strategic importance, it was no longer used. In 1930, after the construction of the Rimini-San Marino railway, it was decided to restore the medieval structure in order to stimulate tourism.

From the second tower to the parking lot a fragment of the old fortress wall of the 13th century departs. In fact, San Marino was surrounded by three rows of walls, built at different times, but all of them were destroyed in the course of the city's growth.

Today there is an ancient weapons museum in the tower of Cest, where about 535 items are collected, including armor, spears, bows and arrows , crossbows, shields, etc., relating to different periods of history from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. This is only part of the collection of 1550 items: the rest can be found at the Borgo Maggiore Military Weapons Research Center.

The third tower, Montale, is the smallest of the three, but in terms of protection it played a strategically important role, the best position for outpost. During the centuries the tower was rebuilt many times; the last time it happened in 1935. Inside is a prison eight-meter deep, which is called the "bottom of the tower." Montale is surrounded by very large and old rocks that formed a kind of primitive wall

Practical information

Address: Guaita is located at Via Salita alla Rocca. Cesta is located at Via Salita alla Cesta

Opening hours: January 2 - June 7: 9:00 to 17:00, June 8 - September 13: 8:00 to 20:00, September 14 - December 31 : from 9:00 to 17:00.

Entrance: entrance to one tower costs 3 EUR, entrance to two towers - 4, 50 EUR (December 2014).