Third Tower, the Montale

The Montale is the third of San Marino's symbolic towers, the three feathers you see on the flag and coat of arms. Until the 13th century it was a fortress separate from the other two strongholds; in 1320 it was connected to them by a long wall, of which some traces remain.

It has a pentagonal plan and a slender shape. It played an important role in the struggles against the Malatesta family, who owned the nearby castle of Fiorentino: from its position, far from the centre and hidden in the woods, it was the best lookout point. A bell warned the population of dangers and the arrival of travellers.

Inside there's a prison, called the bottom of the tower, which can only be accessed from above. After the destruction of the Malatesta castle of Fiorentino in 1479, the tower was abandoned; the last restoration, in 1935, restored its original form.

You cannot enter: the tower is viewed from outside. But the walk through the woods from the Second Tower is one of the most beautiful on Mount Titano, quieter than the streets of the centre, and leads to an isolated viewpoint.