Castel Sigismondo

The Castel Sismondo in Rimini was built in 1437 by Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini and Fano, hence it's name.

The structure was built so as to resist the force of the cannons, to be a degnified seat for the court and the garrison, and as a sign of power and supremacy on the city. The screens are very robust and the large, square towers each hosted a bronze cannon - this disposition was carried out after the consultancy of Filippo Brunelleschi who predisposed the defensive lay-out.

The building conserves its fascination with its powerful walls - the originale effect must have been formidable. The city entrance is decorated by a coat-of-arms made up of a classical shield with checked strips surmounted by a elephant-head shaped crest  and flanked by a four-petal rose. On the left and on the right hand sides of the coat-of-arms there is written "Sigismondo Pandolfo" in tall, picturesque, Gothic characters. The central part of the castle was used as the Prince's residence. In this castle Sigismondo died in 1468. It underwent great modifications during the XVII century when it became property of the Pope. In fact, the surrounding wall was knocked down, the moat was filled in, and the building was cleaned of all its antique furniture.

Castel Sigismondo was also the prison of Rimini from the XIX century to 1967, before it was restored during the '70's.