Historic centre

Rocca Costanza in Pesaro: the Sforza fortress in the old town

Updated 5 November 2026. Rocca Costanza is Pesaro's great fifteenth-century fortress: brick, round towers and a drawbridge that have watched over the city for centuries. This guide gives you its history in brief, the details to look for and, above all, how to find out whether you can go inside on your day, because it is not a museum that is always open.

A fortress begun in 1474

Rocca Costanza was built from the spring of 1474, on the site of a Malatesta fortification, at the wish of Costanzo Sforza. The design is attributed to Luciano Laurana; some sources name other architects as well, so it is best to read the attribution with some caution.

Work was completed in 1483, in the time of Giovanni Sforza. It is a fortress built to defend the city, and its severe lines show it.

What it looks like

The plan is a quadrilateral, with large round, sloping towers at the corners and sloping curtain walls, the stretches of wall between one tower and the next: the base widens towards the ground to withstand attack better. A drawbridge, protected by a ravelin, leads to the entrance.

• Brick and stone: the warm colour of the brick contrasts with the stone of the cornices, one of the nicest details to look at up close.
• The courtyard: there was once a keep at its centre, which no longer exists.
• The drawbridge and the ravelin: the ravelin is the outwork that protects the bridge; look at them together to see how the entrance was defended.

The name carved above the entrance

Above the entrance runs a band of stone carved with the name of Giovanni Sforza, the lord under whom the work was completed. It was carved by Cherubino di Giovanni da Milano. It is a good spot to stop and look up before moving on.

Can you go inside?

Here you need to pay attention: Rocca Costanza is not a museum that is always open. According to the reference entry, it is open on the occasion of cultural events. Before you go, check whether there is an exhibition or event with the tourist information office (IAT) and on the City of Pesaro website.

Even if you cannot find an opening, the view from outside is worth it: the fortress can be admired well from the square, and checking exhibitions and events on the calendar is the simplest way to find out whether you will also be able to go in. The historical details in this guide come from the museionline.info entry.

Where it is

Rocca Costanza is in Piazzale Matteotti, in Pesaro. Work out the route with a map on the day, so you can choose the most convenient way for you.

Do not confuse it with the Rocca of Gradara

The name sometimes causes confusion with other fortresses in the area. Rocca Costanza is the one in Pesaro; the castle of Gradara is something else, a fortified village outside the city. If you want to see that as well, everything is in our guide to Gradara from Pesaro.

Fitting it into a day in Pesaro

The fortress fits well into a walk around the centre. You can combine it with the Ducal Palace and Piazza del Popolo, the historic churches, or follow the full route on what to see in Pesaro in one day on foot. If there is an exhibition on, put it first and plan the rest of the day around it.

Starting from Cortirola

Cortirola Luxury Apartment is at Via Cortirola 8, in Pesaro. Before you leave, open the map, pick your route to Piazzale Matteotti and check whether there is an event at the fortress today: when it is closed you can swap the order of your stops and come back later.

Read next: Cortirola Luxury Apartment · Ducal Palace and Piazza del Popolo · Pesaro in one day on foot · Historic churches · All guides