Rocca di Cerbaia Travel Guide

Rocca di Cerbaia, also known as Rocca Cerbaia, is a ruined castle located in the municipality of Cantagallo, in the Province of Prato. Situated on a rocky hill nearly 400 meters high, it dominates the Bisenzio River valley. The fortress's origins date back to the early 12th century when the Alberti family built it to control the ancient "Lombardy Road" connecting Tuscany to regions beyond the Apennines.For centuries, the fortress served both military and residential purposes for the Alberti family. In 1361, it was sold to the Florentines, who recognized its strategic importance and reinforced its defenses. The castle features a central keep surrounded by two concentric walls, a classic design for medieval enclosure castles. Constructed from local sandstone, large portions of the outer walls and the entrance gate remain.Inside the walls, visitors can explore the ruins of the "Palazzo Nuovo," a barrel-vaulted cistern, and the remains of the Church of San Martino. The central keep, or palace, once had a much taller tower. According to legend, the Rocca denied lodging to Dante Alighieri in 1285 while he was traveling to Bologna. Dante immortalized Cunizza Alberti, a member of the Rocca's owning family, in his Divine Comedy. Today, the Rocca di Cerbaia is owned by the municipality of Cantagallo and is open to visitors.