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The Rocca in Ripafratta or Rocca San paolino is only 18 min by car
from B&B Sunrise Massarosa
San Giuliano terme is the village where you will find th Rocca in about 11 km
you will get there by car passing through Massaciuccoli village
Village and Rocca
They arise overlooking and dominating the rice fields from above
Serchio river close to Monte Pisano mounbtain system you do not
confuse with the Pisan Hills
History
History tells us that the Rocca was born as a customs outpost
because it stood between Pisa and Lucca
This area is called Colle Vergario it was the strategic location because
it stood on the road connected Pisa to Lucca
They also called it Rocca di San paolino patron saint of Lucca
Built by Consortium of the local noble Da Ripafratta family
Its construction served to collect road and river tolls
The Lucchesi took over the building and the Nobles not knowing
defend themselves they asked for help by The Pisans
The Pisans managed to recover Ripafratta
the customs duties applied by the family and the designated
place under Pisan influence
Over the years it was sold again and again and increasingly fortified
enlarged and made more and more secure
The construction of the city walls dates back to this period existing
today
The increasingly disputed Castle over the centuries was taken from
Fiorentini
Structure
Iregular polygonal plan with a tower in the centre quadrangular
and two other towers flank the Walls
Then we find Torre Centino and Torre Niccolai and a third anonymous
tower little preserved
Let’s Save The Rocca in Ripafratta
Let’s save La Rocca in Ripafratta
It is an association whoese aim is to
preserve it because today it is in decay
Today the FAI has launched a capaign like places of heart
to support donations in order to recover the Rocca
It can be visited by walking up to the fortress by a path
easy even for the less experienced
The interior is all collapsed but full of hungry vegetation
to cover everything
We save La Rocca with your presence