A process for the production of high-purity melamine by pyrolysis of urea at high pressure, wherein the liquid phase output from the pyrolysis reactor is sent to a downstream post-reactor, and wherein the anhydrous gaseous phase from the pyrolysis reactor and from the post-reactor are subjected to washing with molten urea for the recovery of the melamine. The purified liquid exiting the post-reactor is treated in a quenching column, in order to eliminate polycondensates, while the quenching column output is cooled. A high purity melamine is then separated by crystallization from a mother liquor, the greater part of which is recycled to the quenching column, thereby enabling a costless recovery of ammonia and melamine. The remaining mother liquor is treated for the separation of oxidized products of pyrolysis and is then sent back to the quenching column, thereby realizing the complete recovery of the melamine.