A hilltop temple in medieval Verona

Castel San Pietro, a medieval castle in Verona, Italy, is not just a historic palace. It is built atop the ruins of a Roman temple. In Roman times, there was an Arx, a sacred and fortified place, guarding the crossing of the Adige on the Via Postumia. The area was strategically important for controlling the Adige river and the surrounding territory. An oppidum existed at the foot of the hill where the Roman Arx was. The current church of San Pietro was built on the remains of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Mithras, that was first mentioned in the 8th century. The defensive function of the hill was consolidated in the Middle Ages and it is believed to have been constructed in the 9th century during the rule of Berengario.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons