
Rocca di Mondavio, Mondavio (PU), Marche, Italy
Mondavio, the "mountain of the birds" (Mons Avium), an ancient Roman settlement, was in the Middle Ages ruled by the Malatesta who had here their fortress already in 1392. Mondavio is considered the greatest masterpiece of Italian military architecture in the period of transition before the adoption of the ramparted bastions.

The rule passed then to the Medici to return finally to the original owners in 1631. Finally in 1860 Mondavio was united to the kingdom of Italy, and the castle is currently the seat of a Museum of Historical Re-enactment.
The fortress appear today as a giant, complex war machine, preserved in the original form since it was never used in war. The walls are thick and follow a complex geometry aimed at retarding the impact of cannon balls and artillery, the highly sophisticated, compact inner plan allowed a small group of soldiers to hold the whole fortress.
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