Forte Malatesta

Forte Malatesta stands beside the Castellano stream and Ponte di Cecco in Ascoli Piceno. Galeotto Malatesta strengthened the medieval fort in 1349; in 1543 Antonio da Sangallo the Younger rebuilt it as a Renaissance fortress for Pope Paul III. The complex now houses the city's Museum of the Early Middle Ages.

Why it matters

The fortress records several phases of Ascoli's history, from medieval defence to Renaissance artillery architecture and later civic use. Within its central body stands the dodecagonal church of Santa Maria del Lago, built in the early sixteenth century among the remains of the earlier fort.

What to notice

Sangallo's irregular star plan and low, thick bastions reflect the changing demands of artillery warfare. The shape of Santa Maria del Lago remains legible within the central block. The museum displays objects from the Lombard necropolis at Castel Trosino, including weapons, horse fittings, jewellery and fibulae from sixth- to eighth-century burials.

Context and history

The site was fortified in pre-Roman and Roman times and was repeatedly rebuilt. The name Forte Malatesta dates to 1349, when Galeotto Malatesta strengthened the medieval fort during the conflict with Fermo. In 1543, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger built the new fortress on commission from Pope Paul III. The fort was restored and converted into a courthouse and prison in 1828, a function it retained until 1978. Following restoration, it reopened in 2010; since 2014, its halls have housed the Museo dell'Alto Medioevo, with material from the Castel Trosino necropolis.