Rocca di Monselice

The Rocca di Monselice is a hilltop fortress rising about 150 meters above sea level, commanding views over the surrounding region. The structure combines walls and towers from different periods and houses an archaeological museum displaying artifacts and remains from the area.

Frederick II of Swabia ordered construction of the fortress in the mid-13th century, building over the ruins of the earlier Pieve di Santa Giustina. Subsequent centuries brought modifications and expansions as the fortress maintained its military importance to the region.

The site encompasses the remains of the Pieve di Santa Giustina, an early medieval church whose spiritual importance shaped the region for centuries. Visitors today can observe how religious and military purposes coexisted within the same fortified location, visible in the architectural layers.

The fortress is accessible on foot via various paths of different difficulty levels leading through natural areas on the hillside. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the paths are drier and easier to navigate.

The natural path around the fortress hosts approximately 300 plant species, including rare varieties thriving on the volcanic rock substrate. Trachyte stone formations have been quarried and valued as building material for centuries, shaping the character of the region.