The Stronghold of Monrupino, built on a hilltop which on one side dominates the Triestine Carso and on the other the bordering Slovene valley, is a place with its own special fascination and one that can immediately capture the imagination. It was the first of the prehistoric castellieri, then a fortified Roman encampment and finally an impregnable fortress defending the local population from Barbarian invasions.
Visitors can admire tha ancient dry-stone walls of the oldest part of the complex (the castelliere) which were later reinforced to resist against clashes with the istrians and against the terrible advance of the Turks.
It seems that the first sanctuary, which later fell into ruins, was built arounf the year 1000, while the picturesque chapel of Santa Maria di Repen was mentioned for the first time in 1316. The present structure, which has been restored several times, dates back to 1512.

Point of interest
Not far from the stronghold are the Natural Reserves of Monte Lanaro, Monte Orsario and an ancient jazera or ice-room, that is a cylindrical stone-covered cistern where blocks of ice were taken from a small pond and kept in storage.