Once crossed the Rocca arch and going towards the centre of Ardea, the remains of the Sforza Cesarini Castle can be seen on the right side. The Castle was built on will of the Colonna family in 1421 in the area where the ancient Ardia tower was placed.In 1564 it was sold to the Cesarini family who turned it into fortress. The access was made of a masonry bridge crossing a moat dug on the tuff.
With its hanging garden it formed the Rocca Fortress, a strong-hold, isolated from the rest of the Acropolis and protected by powerful bastions which is still visible.
According to the ancient statute ruling the relationship between the Ardea population and the Sforza Cesarini family, the Community inhabitants had the right, in case of danger, to take refuge in the Fortress.
During the Second World War the Palace was seriously damaged and as at today only some ruins, the walls and the bastions, remain. An ancient popular legend says that the phantom of the famous leader Ludovico Colonna, here killed in 1436 by his brother-in-law, still wanders around the Palace.
