From the Varco dei lombi to the Rocca
The route begins at the Lombi gate, the historic headquarters of the mutual aid society and now a center of cultural initiatives. From Piazza XVIII Novembre it leads to the fortress, the result of centuries of transformations, which traces its origins back to the 12th century with the presence of churches and an articulated defensive system evidenced by ancient towers.
The route begins with the so-called varco dei Lombi, which today is another exit to theoutside and is named after a small building, the sala dei Lombi, where many cultural events are held today. This place has special significance for the local community because it is linked to the mutual aid society, which had its headquarters there, thanks to theintervention of members and even the King of Italy.
The fortress is accessed from Piazza XVIII Novembre. The fortress as we see it today is the result of many actions that took place over at least five hundred years. In fact, it starts from a church contemporary with the church below in the village. These two religious buildings testify that at the height of the 12th century the castle had its own relevance.
But the churches were definitely within a defensive system, of which one tower remains, now converted into the church bell tower next to the cistern, and another still clearly visible in 17th-century cartography and the 19th-century cadastre, but now completely repointed.
