Castle
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Serravalle Castle
Serravalle Castle, located in San Marino's northernmost and most populous municipality, is an ancient fortification originally built in the twelfth century by the Malatesta family of Rimini. Captured by San Marino forces in 1463 during the War of San Marino, the castle and its surrounding walled village served as a strategic frontier defense against Italian invasions. Behind its historic stone gatehouses and defensive walls lies a history of bloody border skirmishes and sieges. Residents and travelers report seeing phantom soldiers in Renaissance armor patrolling the old battlements and hearing spectral whispers near the main archway.