Sassocorvaro: the wonder of "the wrong rock"

What it is and where it is

In Sassocorvaro is the Rocca Ubaldinesca of Sassocorvaro, a small and massive fortification. It looks like a giant stylized turtle, with circular shapes as legs and a more ogival protuberance as head. The rectilinear surfaces of this defensive structure are minimized, while the curved volumes alternate and chase each other as in a dance. One spontaneously looks for the access door to peek inside. One finds it rather recessed, hidden behind a defense tower, but open to a beautiful courtyard. The living stones of the exterior give way to white plaster and elegant loggias, as befits a stately palace.

Why it is special

The Rocca di Sassocorvaro is the first attempt by that Francesco di Giorgio Martini who played so much part in the construction of 15th-century strongholds. It was he who tackled the problem of bombard blows, the innovative weapon of the time. In fortresses, straight lines disappear in favor of curved ones, so the force of the bombard is more easily dispersed, if not deflected. This first attempt, however, has one flaw: the defending sentries have little vision. A "magnificent mistake," which nevertheless did not diminish the importance of this unique fortress , among the greatest masterpieces of Renaissance architecture.