The high door
Seven metres up.
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Montale Tower is the third and smallest of San Marino's Three Towers, on the smallest summit of Monte Titano. It is a slim square stone tower with battlements at the top, standing alone among trees on the cliff edge, with green hills behind. The tower was built in the 14th century, thought to guard against the growing power of the Malatesta family in the region. It served as a prison, so its only entrance is a door about seven metres off the ground, as prisons were built then. It is the only one of the three towers closed to visitors. You reach it on a path continuing from Cesta Tower through the trees, quieter than the path between the first two. You see the tower up close with its stone walls and high door, and the edge looks over the other towers, the town and the plain. The tower is 310 m from Cesta Tower. It is open and free to see from outside; the tower itself is closed. The path is earthen and rocky and can be slippery after rain.
Seven metres up.
Through the trees.
Of the other two towers.
Smallest summit of Monte Titano, City of San Marino
Cesta TowerCesta Tower is the second of San Marino's Three Towers, on the highest summit of4 minutes walk
Guaita TowerGuaita Tower, also called the Rocca, is a stone fortress on the edge of a sheer 8 minutes walk
Porta San FrancescoPorta San Francesco is the main entrance to the walled old town of San Marino. A9 minutes walk
Palazzo Pubblico and Liberty SquareThe Palazzo Pubblico is San Marino's government building, on Piazza della Libert11 minutes walk
Basilica of Saint MarinusThe Basilica of Saint Marinus is the main church of the City of San Marino, on P11 minutes walkNo, the tower is closed to visitors.
Because it was a prison.