Rocca Paolina

Perugia, Italy, Italy

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Rocca Paolina is a historic Renaissance fortress in the center of Perugia, built between 1540 and 1543 by order of Pope Paul III after a local revolt known as the Salt War.

Designed by the architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, it was intended to demonstrate papal authority over the city. To construct the fortress, entire medieval neighborhoods, including parts of the powerful Baglioni family's district, were demolished or incorporated into the structure.

As a result, a network of old streets, houses, and passageways became buried beneath the fortress, many of which can still be explored today. Although much of the above-ground fortress was later destroyed, its atmospheric underground chambers remain one of Perugia’s most fascinating attractions. Today, the site serves as a cultural and exhibition space, offering visitors a unique journey through layers of the city's history.