The First of the three Towers

San Marino has three Towers: the Guaita, the Cesta and the Montale.
The Guaita is the oldest and is believed to have provided refuge for the first inhabitants of San Marino, around the year one thousand.
Seen from a distance, the First Tower makes a truly impressive visual impact in its sumptuous majesty, protecting its lands, rocks and inhabitants.
The word "Guaita" is in fact still used among the local inhabitants and means "to guard". The Fort was built for defensive purposes and two walls protect it: an outer one with corner reinforcement towers and an inner one that houses the military buildings, a well, the chapel of Santa Barbara, the Bell Tower and the Feather Tower.

Curiosity

The three Towers are the three "feathers" symbol of San Marino, depicted everywhere as defenders of the freedom of the Republic.

Privileged position

In the Ancient Land of Liberty you can enjoy a breathtaking view from every corner, but from the First Tower, located on the promontory, the view is truly spectacular, a thrill for even the most hardened of visitors.
From above, the dizzying cliff edges and square rock create a magical and almost surreal combination. Absolutely one of the most beautiful places in which to take a panoramic photo.

Inside and out

Before entering the fortress through the great arch, you can see the old raising chains of the drawbridge used in medieval times.
Once you have crossed the entrance, on the left you see the small church dedicated to Santa Barbara also called "Cappella della Rocca". Dating back to 1960, it is connected to the stairway that allows you to walk along the perimeter wall and observe the city from a privileged perspective.
The tour continues with a visit to the prisons (small rooms used as a refuge by the men who guarded the city) and the Mastio, which can be reached by way of a staircase, and from which a truly exciting view can then be enjoyed.

Curiosity

The First Tower, enlarged and restored in various periods, reached its greatest importance and efficiency in the fifteenth century during the war against the Malatesta family of Rimini, in 1463. For several centuries until 1975, it was used as a prison.