Rocca Pia
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
162 reviews
Excellent
76
Very good
53
Average
24
Poor
3
Terrible
6
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,166 contributions
Jun 2022
We walked past this medieval fortress castle on our way from the train station to the Villa d’Este and Tivoli Gardens.
It was closed when we passed by and as far as I can tell it’s not open very often.
Fortunately you don’t have to go out of your way to walk past it as it’s just next to Piazza Garibaldi and only around the corner from the villa.
Without going inside, what you see here is a smallish but severe looking fortress with a square structure and 4 round towers.
Built it in 1461 by Pope Pius, it was designed to protect the city against the enemy within rather than outside attackers. A popular uprising was more likely than any external attack.
Originally it had a drawbridge but this no longer remains. In the 19th century it was used as a district prison until 1960.
Unless you happen to see it open, this is a just a very quick stop on your way to Villa D’Este.
It was closed when we passed by and as far as I can tell it’s not open very often.
Fortunately you don’t have to go out of your way to walk past it as it’s just next to Piazza Garibaldi and only around the corner from the villa.
Without going inside, what you see here is a smallish but severe looking fortress with a square structure and 4 round towers.
Built it in 1461 by Pope Pius, it was designed to protect the city against the enemy within rather than outside attackers. A popular uprising was more likely than any external attack.
Originally it had a drawbridge but this no longer remains. In the 19th century it was used as a district prison until 1960.
Unless you happen to see it open, this is a just a very quick stop on your way to Villa D’Este.
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,381 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
This castle is a splendid example of military architecture of the fifteenth century. It owes its name to Pope Pius II, the "humanist pope", creator among other things of newly built city of Pienza (Tuscany).
Pius II wanted to build this castle as a functional structure, and together to give a sign, to the city and the territory, regarding the power who ruled them.
It's worth noting that during the construction, despite the pope's renowned humanism, the near Roman amphitheater was almost razed to the ground, so that didn't constitute a base from which to attack the castle.
The building lately, and until the middle of last century, was used as a prison, so inside probably little remains interesting to see.
I say "probably", because the castle isn't currently open to visits. As I understand it, after finishing the expensive renovations, the municipality is unable to organize the management of it and open it.
Therefore my high rating refers only to the beauty of the castle from the outside, certainly not at all to its management.
Pius II wanted to build this castle as a functional structure, and together to give a sign, to the city and the territory, regarding the power who ruled them.
It's worth noting that during the construction, despite the pope's renowned humanism, the near Roman amphitheater was almost razed to the ground, so that didn't constitute a base from which to attack the castle.
The building lately, and until the middle of last century, was used as a prison, so inside probably little remains interesting to see.
I say "probably", because the castle isn't currently open to visits. As I understand it, after finishing the expensive renovations, the municipality is unable to organize the management of it and open it.
Therefore my high rating refers only to the beauty of the castle from the outside, certainly not at all to its management.
Written 4 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shelly M
Post Falls, ID524 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
Because the entry to this lovely little castle is free, I'm not going to grouse too much about what it's lacking. What it does offer is a beautiful example of medieval architecture. There is a little information posted, all of it fascinating. It's easy to get a feel of what it must have been like in the 15th Century. I just wish more of it had been open to the public. I especially enjoyed the authentic clothing on display.
Written 26 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vistablue
Surrey, UK342 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Quite an attractive castle when viewed from the road but not worth going out of your way to see. Not open during our visit at the end of April 2017
Written 8 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matheus S
North Wales, UK3 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We came to Tivoli primarily to visit Villa D'Este, and came across this small castle. The free tour was given in English by Simona, who was very friendly and was able to answer everyone's questions. The tour was roughly half an hour and quite informative.
Written 9 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,571 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
Rocca Pia stands a few steps from Piazza Garibaldi. Pope Pius II Piccolomini built it in 1461 on top of a hill to control the city from above and to avoid any popular uprisings. Its construction took only a year. The works were designed by architects Niccolo and Varrone. The fortress has a square structure with four round towers of different heights, the highest reaches 36.50 meters. The main tower consisted of six rooms. The second one consisted of 5 rooms and was 25.5 meters high. Two smaller towers facing toward the center of the city, with a height of only 18 meters, and consists of three rooms each. There are traces of a suspension bridge on the wall of the fortress and along the perimeter you can see traces of a dug ditch. Later the fortress was reconstructed under Sixtus IV and Julius II. Subsequently, Rocca Pia served as a barracks, which housed the French and Austrian invaders. The fortress changed its function under Napoleon, who turned it into a prison. Many of Napoleon's innovations have survived it for centuries. Rocca Pia remained a prison until 1960. Half a century has passed, and no any visitor can go to the fortress still. Why?
Written 10 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinapjs
Washington DC, DC3,633 contributions
Oct 2017
16th century castle built by Pope Pius II to help keep the unruly citizens of Tivoli in order, has 4 turrets. Was used for many purposes over the years including as a prison until 1960. Most interesting from the outside.
Written 31 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MijnlieverdFH
Tagum City, Philippines4,143 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
This review has been long overdue. I did not find the subject to write my review in that time.
Rocca Pia is an imposing structure, an ancient castle mounted just at a junction of the historic city of Tivoli.
History said the castle was made to control the city and to prevent any future revolts or violence during the medieval era of Tivoli. After several centuries, changes were made to fit into a barrack and a prison which was much needed that time.
The castle has four large towers of different dimensions. They are joined to the large walls with hanging bows, which is typical medieval architecture. After the construction of the Rocca Pia, it began the age of construction of several castles and villas in Tivoli, for which the city is internationally renowned today.
If you are visiting Tivoli, you cannot leave this spectacular hilltop town without exploring the castle of Rocca Pia, and seeing the sights of the city from the top.
Rocca Pia is an imposing structure, an ancient castle mounted just at a junction of the historic city of Tivoli.
History said the castle was made to control the city and to prevent any future revolts or violence during the medieval era of Tivoli. After several centuries, changes were made to fit into a barrack and a prison which was much needed that time.
The castle has four large towers of different dimensions. They are joined to the large walls with hanging bows, which is typical medieval architecture. After the construction of the Rocca Pia, it began the age of construction of several castles and villas in Tivoli, for which the city is internationally renowned today.
If you are visiting Tivoli, you cannot leave this spectacular hilltop town without exploring the castle of Rocca Pia, and seeing the sights of the city from the top.
Written 14 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anu_mishra123
Lucknow, India39 contributions
Nov 2016 • Friends
We did not went inside. During our tour to Tivoli garden, our bus stopped near to this place. So we only had an external view and some photos clicked.
Written 23 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oliver S
New York City, NY11,509 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
It's free, probably the reason it's rated so highly on TA. But it's nothing, really: a very impressive outside with nothing inside... Go see Villa d'Este instead
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
probabilmente hai già risolto, comunque non serve la prenotazione, si entra in gruppo ogni mezz'ora con una guida che gratuitamente, come l'ingresso, guida il gruppo nella storia della Rocca
Written 24 March 2019
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