Rocca (architecture)
Encyclopedia
Rocca is an Italian term meaning a high, fortifiable stronghold, usually located in smaller towns, beneath or on which the village or town clustered, within which its inhabitants might take refuge at times of trouble; under its owners' patronage the settlement might hope to find prosperity in better times. A rocca might in reality be no grander than a fortified farmhouse. A more extensive rocca would be referred to as a castello.
The rocca in Roman times would more likely be a site of a venerable cult than a dwelling, like the highplace of Athens, its Acropolis
. Though the earliest documentation is not often earlier than the eleventh century, it was during the Lombard times
that farming communities, which had presented a Roman pattern of loosely distributed farmsteads or self-sufficient villa
s, moved from their traditional places on the fringes of the best arable lands in river bottoms, where they were dangerously available from the Roman road
s, to defensive positions, such as had once been occupied by Etruscan settlements
, before the settled conditions of the Pax Romana
. "At Falerii
", J.B. Ward-Perkins notes, "the inhabitants simply transferred their city back from its Roman site on the open plateau to the old cliff-top site of Falerii Veteres, to which they gave the significant name of Civita Castellana
, or "the Fortress City"; just as in antiquity, security was once again the basic consideration." Similarly, in Greek-speaking Calabria
, the inhabitants of Paestum
finally abandoned their town after raids by Saracen
s and moved a few miles to the top of a cliff, calling the new settlement Agropoli
(ie "acropolis"). Where such fortress-villages were sited at the end of a ridge, protected on three sides by steep, cliff-like escarpments, the rocca was often sited to control the narrow access along the headland's spine.
In the immediate neighborhood, La Rocca simply designates the local castellated high place.
From the earliest stage, when church and rocca were the only stone structures "the distinction between 'castles' and 'villages' is already one of degree rather than kind." (Ward-Perkins 1962:401) Their protective rocca has extended its name to many other small communities:
The rocca in Roman times would more likely be a site of a venerable cult than a dwelling, like the highplace of Athens, its Acropolis
Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification...
. Though the earliest documentation is not often earlier than the eleventh century, it was during the Lombard times
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
that farming communities, which had presented a Roman pattern of loosely distributed farmsteads or self-sufficient villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
s, moved from their traditional places on the fringes of the best arable lands in river bottoms, where they were dangerously available from the Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
s, to defensive positions, such as had once been occupied by Etruscan settlements
Etruscan civilization
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany. The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci...
, before the settled conditions of the Pax Romana
Pax Romana
Pax Romana was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Since it was established by Caesar Augustus it is sometimes called Pax Augusta...
. "At Falerii
Falerii
Falerii was one of the twelve chief cities of Etruria, situated about 1.5 km west of the ancient Via Flaminia, around 50 kilometers north of Rome.- History :According to legend, it was of Argive origin...
", J.B. Ward-Perkins notes, "the inhabitants simply transferred their city back from its Roman site on the open plateau to the old cliff-top site of Falerii Veteres, to which they gave the significant name of Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana
Civita Castellana is a town and comune in the province of Viterbo, 65 km north of Rome.Mount Soracte lies about 10 km to the south-east.-History:...
, or "the Fortress City"; just as in antiquity, security was once again the basic consideration." Similarly, in Greek-speaking Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
, the inhabitants of Paestum
Paestum
Paestum is the classical Roman name of a major Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It is located in the north of Cilento, near the coast about 85 km SE of Naples in the province of Salerno, and belongs to the commune of Capaccio, officially also named...
finally abandoned their town after raids by Saracen
Saracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
s and moved a few miles to the top of a cliff, calling the new settlement Agropoli
Agropoli
Agropoli is a town and comune located in the Cilento area of the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy. It is situated at the start of the Cilento coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its population is 21.251.-Pre-medieval period:...
(ie "acropolis"). Where such fortress-villages were sited at the end of a ridge, protected on three sides by steep, cliff-like escarpments, the rocca was often sited to control the narrow access along the headland's spine.
In the immediate neighborhood, La Rocca simply designates the local castellated high place.
Examples
Specific examples show the range of structures that may be termed a rocca:- Rocca SanvitaleRocca Sanvitalethumb|280px|View of the Rocca Sanvitale.The Rocca Sanvitale, or Sanvitale Castle, is a fortress residence located in the centre of the town of Fontanellato, near Parma, northern Italy. Construction of the moated block, accessible through a drawbridge, was begun in the 13th century, mostly completed...
, begun in the 13th century, mostly completed by the 15th century, is a remarkable fortress house in the town of FontanellatoFontanellatoFontanellato is a small town in the province of Parma, in northern Italy. It lies on the plains of the River Po near the A1 autostrada, about 20 kilometres west of Parma towards Piacenza....
, near Parma. - Rocca FleaRocca FleaThe Rocca Flea is a fortified palace in Gualdo Tadino, Umbria, central Italy.It is located in the upper part of the hill on which the town lies. Although it has been speculated that its construction could date to Lombard times, what is known with certainty is only that it predates the town's...
is a fortified palazzo in Gualdo Tadino, Umbria. - In VallettaVallettaValletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta, Casa Rocca PiccolaCasa Rocca PiccolaCasa Rocca Piccola is a palace in Malta, currently occupied by the de Piros, a noble Maltese family. It is situated in Valletta, the capital city of Malta...
is one of the last remaining unconverted palazzi, that is still lived in today by a noble family. - In Sardinia, the Rocca Doria, a stronghold of the DoriaDoriaDoria, originally de Auria , meaning "the sons of Auria", and then de Oria or d'Oria, is the name of an old and extremely wealthy Genoese family who played a major role in the history of the Republic of Genoa and in Italy, from the 12th century to the 16th century.-Origins:According to legend, a...
of Genoa, gives its name to the commune Monteleone Rocca DoriaMonteleone Rocca DoriaMonteleone Rocca Doria is a comune in the Province of Sassari in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 150 km northwest of Cagliari and about 30 km south of Sassari. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 124 and an area of 13.0 km².Monteleone Rocca Doria borders the...
.
From the earliest stage, when church and rocca were the only stone structures "the distinction between 'castles' and 'villages' is already one of degree rather than kind." (Ward-Perkins 1962:401) Their protective rocca has extended its name to many other small communities:
- RoccacasaleRoccacasaleRoccacasale is a comune in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Built on the slopes of the Monte della Rocca in the central Apennines, the village overlooks the Peligna Valley and the town of Sulmona....
is located in the Province of L'AquilaProvince of L'Aquilathumb|left|200px|Map of the province.The Province of L'Aquila is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated province of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It comprises about half the landmass of Abruzzo and occupies the western part of the region...
in the AbruzzoAbruzzoAbruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
. - Rocca di PapaRocca di PapaRocca di Papa is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani about 25 km south east of Rome on the Alban Hills. It is bounded by the other communes of Velletri, Rocca Priora, Monte Compatri, Grottaferrata, Albano and Marino...
in the region called Castelli RomaniCastelli RomaniThe Castelli Romani is a group of communes in the province of Rome, Italy. They are located at short distance south-east to Rome, at the feet of the Alban Hills.-Overview:...
in the hills surrounding Lazio has given its name to its comuneComuneIn Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
. Twelfth-century documents name the Castrum Rocce de Papa ("Rock Castle of the Pope"), because here lived Pope Eugene IIIPope Eugene IIIPope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
. - Rocca SinibaldaRocca SinibaldaRocca Sinibalda is a comune in the Province of Rieti in the Italian region Latium, located about 50 km northeast of Rome and about 15 km southeast of Rieti....
, a comune in the Province of RietiProvince of RietiThe Province of Rieti is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Rieti.It has an area of 2,749 km², and a total population of 153,258 . There are 73 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Rieti.It was founded in 1927.-External links:*...
in Lazio, is located about 50 km northeast of RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. - Rocca CanteranoRocca CanteranoRocca Canterano is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 45 km east of Rome. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 230 and an area of 15.8 km²....
, Rocca PrioraRocca PrioraRocca Priora is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, Lazio, Italy. It is one of the Castelli Romani on the Alban Hills about 25 km south east of Rome, situated in the Regional Park known as the "Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani"....
, Rocca MassimaRocca MassimaRocca Massima is a comune in the Province of Latina in the Italian region Lazio, located about 40 km southeast of Rome and about 25 km north of Latina, in the Monti Lepini area....
, Rocca di CaveRocca di CaveRocca di Cave is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 40 km east of Rome.It is home to the remains Colonna castle, which today houses a Geo-Palaeontological Museum and an astronomical observation point....
, Rocca Santo StefanoRocca Santo StefanoRocca Santo Stefano is a comune in the Province of Rome in the Italian region Latium, located about 45 km east of Rome.Rocca Santo Stefano borders the following municipalities: Affile, Bellegra, Canterano, Gerano, Subiaco....
, Rocca d'ArceRocca d'ArceRocca d'Arce is a comune in the Province of Frosinone in the Italian region Lazio, located about 100 km southeast of Rome and about 20 km southeast of Frosinone....
are also in Lazio. - Rocca GrimaldaRocca GrimaldaRocca Grimalda is a village and comune in the Province of Alessandria, Piedmont, Italy. It lies in Alto Monferrato, an historical region of Piedmont, and it was built upon a rocky hill on the Orba's left bank...
in the Province of AlessandriaProvince of AlessandriaThe Province of Alessandria is an Italian province, with a population of some 430,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The provincial capital is the city of Alessandria....
, PiedmontPiedmontPiedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
was a nest of bandits in the eighteenth century. Rocca CanaveseRocca CanaveseRocca Canavese is a comune in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 30 km northwest of Turin. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,678 and had an area of 14.2 km²....
, Rocca CiglièRocca CiglièRocca Cigliè is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southeast of Turin and about 35 km east of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 149 and an area of 7.3 km²....
, Rocca d'ArazzoRocca d'ArazzoRocca d'Arazzo is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km southeast of Turin and about 8 km southeast of Asti....
, Rocca de' BaldiRocca de' BaldiRocca de' Baldi is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km south of Turin and about 15 km northeast of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,656 and an area of 26.3 km²....
are also comuni in Piedmont. - Rocca PietoreRocca PietoreRocca Pietore is a comune in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 160 km north of Venice and about 40 km northwest of Belluno....
is in the Province of BellunoProvince of BellunoTheThe Province of Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 214,026 .-Geography:...
in the Veneto. - Rocca SusellaRocca SusellaRocca Susella is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km south of Milan and about 30 km south of Pavia...
and Rocca de' GiorgiRocca de' GiorgiRocca de' Giorgi is a comune in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km south of Milan and about 25 km southeast of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 91 and an area of 10.7 km2.Rocca de' Giorgi borders the following...
are in the Province of PaviaProvince of PaviaThe Province of Pavia is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Pavia is the capital.It has an area of 2,965 km², and a total population of 493,753...
in Lombardy. - Castelvecchio di Rocca BarbenaCastelvecchio di Rocca BarbenaCastelvecchio di Rocca Barbena is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 70 km southwest of Genoa and about 35 km southwest of Savona....
is a comune in the Province of SavonaProvince of SavonaThe Province of Savona is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Savona.-Overview:...
in Liguria. - Rocca San CascianoRocca San CascianoRocca San Casciano is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 km southeast of Bologna and about 25 km southwest of Forlì.-Geography:...
is a comune in the Province of Forlì-CesenaProvince of Forlì-CesenaThe Province of Forlì-Cesena is a province in the Emilia–Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Forlì.It has an area of 2,377 km², and a total population of 371,318 . There are 30 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Forlì-Cesena...
in Emilia-Romagna. - Rocca San GiovanniRocca San GiovanniRocca San Giovanni is a comune and town in the province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy.-Main sights:The main attraction of the neighbourhood is the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere. Other sights in Rocca San Giovanni include:...
is a comune and town in the province of ChietiProvince of ChietiThe Province of Chieti is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Chieti.It has an area of 2,588 km², and a total population of 381,993...
in the Abruzzo. - Rocca d'EvandroRocca d'EvandroRocca d'Evandro is a comune in the Province of Caserta in the Italian region Campania, located about 70 km northwest of Naples and about 50 km northwest of Caserta.-History:...
is a comune in the Province of CasertaProvince of CasertaThe Province of Caserta is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Caserta. The former royal palace of Caserta is located near to the city.It has an area of 2,639 km², and a total population of 879,342...
in Campania. - Rocca PiaRocca PiaRocca Pia is a comune and town in the Province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. His territory extended up to the level of Cinquemiglia...
s a comunein the Province of L'AquilaL'AquilaL'Aquila is a city and comune in central Italy, both the capital city of the Abruzzo region and of the Province of L'Aquila. , it has a population of 73,150 inhabitants, but has a daily presence in the territory of 100,000 people for study, tertiary activities, jobs and tourism...
in the AbruzzoAbruzzoAbruzzo is a region in Italy, its western border lying less than due east of Rome. Abruzzo borders the region of Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east, and the Adriatic Sea to the east...
region. - Rocca ImperialeRocca ImperialeRocca Imperiale is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy....
is a town and comune in the province of CosenzaProvince of CosenzaThe Province of Cosenza is a province in the Calabria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Cosenza.It has an area of 6,650 km², and a total population of 733,797 . It is the biggest Calabrian Province...
in Calabria. - Rocca di UrbisagliaRocca di UrbisagliaThe Rocca di Urbisaglia is a 16th century military fortification, including ruins of medieval fortifications and Roman walls.Its imposing position, dominating the urban area and the Fiastra Valley below, suggests that the Arx or the Capitol of the Roman town Urbs Salvia was once located here...
is a 16th century military fortification in UrbisagliaUrbisagliaUrbisaglia is a comune in the province of Macerata, Marche, Italy. Its name comes from the ancient Roman town Urbs Salvia.-History:Situated in the Regio V Picenum, along the via Salaria Gallica, the town was founded during the 2nd century BC as a colonia...
, in the MarcheMarcheThe population density in the region is below the national average. In 2008, it was 161.5 inhabitants per km2, compared to the national figure of 198.8. It is highest in the province of Ancona , and lowest in the province of Macerata...
.