Forte Malatesta is a glorious and iconic fortress that has long protected the area surrounding the adjacent Castellano River. Its reconstructed bridge stretches over a neighboring gorge and the Museo dell’Alto Medioevo is on the fort’s top floor. Gaze up at the impressive building and its red-tiled roof. Bright green hilltop vegetation partially engulfs it.
The impressive structure has been restored, renovated and reconstructed many times over the centuries. Admire its Renaissance architecture and look up at the rising central tower. Enter the fort and notice the Renaissance period décor and furnishings.
The Museo dell’Alto Medioevo contains displays of artifacts dating from the 5th century until the year 1000. Inspect preserved jewelry and check out the intriguing projections on the historic interior walls.
Visit the wonderful 16th-century Santa Maria del Lago Church in the fort complex. Marvel at the intricate brickwork and the colorful frescoes on the walls of the courtyard.
See the mesmerizing structure at night, when it is illuminated in golden light, standing out against the dark wilderness behind it. Stroll across the medieval Cecco Bridge to reach the eastern outskirts of the city. Legend has it that the bridge was built in a single night by the poet Cecco d’Ascoli, using powers bestowed by the devil. It was destroyed by German bombing in World War II, before being reconstructed from its original materials in 1971.
There is a fee to enter the fortress, which opens Tuesday through Sunday from morning until early evening, with a lunchtime closure of 2 hours on weekdays.
The Forte Malatesta is a little east of the Old Town quarter of Ascoli Piceno. Walk from the historic center for about 15 minutes to reach the fort or arrive on foot from the nearby Ascoli Piceno railway station. Make sure to see other sights in the area, including the Squarcia, the Palazzo Colucci and the Chiesa del Carmine.
