Forte di San Leo

About

Since the ancient Romans, an imposing fortress has topped the rocky crag overlooking San Leo. During the middle ages, this strategic position was bitterly contested by the Byzantines, Goths, Franks and Lombards. Following the advent of firearms, the fortress was updated to better withstand and defend a modern assault. While it was hotly contested for centuries, in 1631, it finally settled into the comfortable role - a prison. Its impregnable defenses made it perfectly apt at containing some of the age’s most notorious dissidents, such as Cagliostro. Today, the fortress has been restored to its elegant Renaissance form, and along with the absolutely stupendous views, the castle displays the implements of pain - from medieval torture devices to WWII machine guns.