Mastio Federiciano

Description

The top of the Rocca hill is dominated by the imposing Mastio Federiciano, a medieval keep whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Frederick II of Swabia; the 20 m high fortress, erected in 1239 by the Emperor’s deputy Ezzelino da Romano on the ancient tenth century foundation of the Pieve di Santa Giustina, a parish church, is now formed by a truncated pyramid shaped base and a squared building in block of trachyte stone. Originally the keep was provided with a further wooden upper floor too. In the past the Mastio was the heart of a complex defensive structure: a Citadel developed on five circles of defensive walls and whose ancient Fortifications of the sixth century (Byzantine period) are still visible. Recent excavations and a substantial restoration of the Citadel have unveiled medieval archaeological findings of remarkable interest. info: http://www.castellodimonselice.it/en-US/the-mastio-federiciano