The south-east part of the Palazzo dei Pio’s complex is occupied by the so-called Rocca Vecchia. As it is seen nowadays, it was built at the end of the XV century, but the name refers to a most ancient building that must have been there, maybe a previous fortress whose traces are still visible, even if the changes and the integrations of the following centuries have partially changed the original shape.
On the Eastern facade, in fact, there are clear elements of external decorations and above all reliefs of old merlons of a building that must have had some defensive function. Inside the fortress, seat of the Municipal Historical Archive, there is the Crests’ room, characterized by a nice fresco of the XV century with huge crests and a frieze decorated with plant motifs with golden pinecones, the symbol of Pio family. .
