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Entering the town is
possible to see the
remains of the ancient
town walls.
According to the
historian Guglielmo
Allevi, the
original structure
traces back to the
XII-XIII century, while
in a map of Offida
designed by F.Fabiani
in 1964, there is still
evidence of
fortifications of such
period.
The door of the main
entrance, was
formed by a square
tower, with a door
that, through a
drawbridge, enabled
entry into the
city.
There were two other
doors, one on the
north-west side
nominated St. Giovanni
and another on the
south-west named
Fontana. Very little
remains of the ancient
Castle Walls which
surrounded the city of
Offida.
The earthquake in
1943 contributed to
the damaging of the
city walls that still
remained and later the
old retaining wall,
still present around
the main tower, was
demolished
inappropriately and a
travertine baluster was
inserted.
The structure that we
can see today, dates
back to the XV
century, when the
new fortress was built,
designed by the
architect Baccio
Pontelli, to face
the continous fights
between the inhabitants
of Offida and
Ascoli.
The tower with a
circular plan
and covered with
bricks, enabled one to
protect himself as the
bullets of the enemies
slipped easily down the
side, without achieving
the target.
In
1943 the
fortress was
equipped of
artillery to face
up to the shots of the
enemies and not to
attack the foundation
of the exact
fortification.
According to the
tradition the artillery
was removed to be
inserted into the small
fortress of Loreto.
At
present there is still
the
tower which
safeguarded the entry
into the city, and a
square and
cylindrical
tower,
connected along the
stretching wall.
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