Rocca Pia

Rocca Pia stands just beyond Tivoli’s historic walls in Italy, overlooking the city and the access route of Via Tiburtina. Pope Pius II ordered its construction in 1461.

Local tuff stone forms four circular towers, which high connecting walls join into a compact defensive stronghold. The outward-facing tower reaches 36.5 metres. It contains six stacked rooms, while the second tower rises 25.5 metres and contains five. Two city-facing towers stand 18 metres high. Each contains three rooms, and the entrance carries the Piccolomini crest behind a forebody with two square towers.

Thick walls include numerous openings for firearms, revealing the fortress’s military purpose. After becoming outdated, the structure served other uses, including a prison until 1960.

City: Tivoli
Content updated: 2026-06-22

Image: PinturicchioPublic domain
Image: Antimuonium, Alex43223, Palosirkka CC BY-SA 3.0
Image: ZannerPublic domain
Image: TivoliTibutino CC BY-SA 4.0

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myTuur is a free city-guide app. Its tours are built from spots, and each spot carries a story that starts when you get there, to read or to listen to as you like.