Fortezza Firmafede

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Fortezza Firmafede, also called La Cittadella or Fortezza di Sarzana, is a historic fortress in Sarzana, Liguria, Italy. It stands on the site of the town’s first military fortification, built with help from Pisa. In 1324 important improvements were made, but in 1487 Florentine troops led by Lorenzo de’ Medici destroyed it. It was rebuilt from 1487 to 1492 on the ruins of the old citadel, with a round central tower and strong walls, built with the help of Florentine architects Giuliano da Sangallo, Francesco di Giovanni and Luca del Caprina. In 1496 Charles VIII of France sold Sarzana to the Bank of Saint George, and in 1562 the Republic of Genoa completed the fortress. In 1815 it became a police barracks and later a prison until the 1970s. Restoration began in 1985, and today the fortress is owned by the Ministry of Culture and used for cultural events and exhibitions. The main building has a four-sided plan with a central keep, surrounded by a moat and defensive walls. Access is via a path and a stone bridge that leads to the main door and the courtyard.