Cesta stands higher than any other point in San Marino. To reach it you walk along the ridge path from Guaita, climbing a little higher with every step. The tower is surrounded by the ruins of its original outer walls, and the whole area feels like you have stepped back in time.
Inside the tower is the Museum of Ancient Arms, which is the fancy name for the crossbow collection. There are crossbows of all sizes and ages - some beautifully decorated, some plain and practical. A crossbow works by pulling back a string that is attached to a short bow mounted sideways on a handle, then releasing it to fire a small arrow called a bolt.
Crossbow shooting is still practised in San Marino today. Teams of archers in historical costumes compete in festivals, aiming for targets in contests that have been going on for hundreds of years. Cesta's museum helps people understand where that tradition came from and how the equipment changed over the centuries.