The most beautiful castles and fortresses in Italy.

Perched on majestic mountains, immersed in fairy-tale landscapes or lapped by the waters, castles and fortresses tell us long gone stories, on the border between reality and legend.

The fortresses are very similar to castles, fortification works consisting of a wall of considerable thickness and towers. Generally, they are found in very suggestive villages or historical centres, places that bring to mind images of princesses, knights and battles.

Monteriggioni fortress, Tuscany
Thanks to its majesty and grandeur, the Monteriggioni fortress, in the province of Siena, has a natural tourist vocation. Every year, in fact, over 70,000 visitors go to admire the famous Tuscan castle, which shows itself in all its magnificence.
It is no coincidence that one of the most illustrious tourists, who arrived from Florence, was so impressed that he dedicated some verses of his most famous work. We are talking about Dante, who was inspired by Monteriggioni for the giant fixtures in the abyss of Malebolge, in Dante’s Hell.
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Scaliger Castle, Lake Garda

Rocca Calascio, Abruzzo
Inside the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, at 1460 m, stands the Rocca di Calascio, in the province of L'Aquila. The imposing medieval structure, all built in white stone, is one of the highest in Italy. Perched in the mountains, it overlooks the ancient village below, now uninhabited. Its undoubted charm has made it a perfect setting for several films, including the unforgettable "Ladyhawke" and "The Name of the Rose", but also the most recent "The American" with George Clooney.

Rocca Calascio, Abruzzo

Aragonese Castle, Ischia, Amalfi coast
It stands on an islet and is connected by means of a masonry bridge to the ancient Borgo di Celsa, today known as Ischia Ponte. Thanks to Alfonso V of Aragon, access to the castle is possible through a tunnel dug in the rock. Before then, it could only be accessed by the sea. The tunnel, 400 meters long, is illuminated by high skylights which at the time also acted as "seals" from which boiling oil, stones and other materials were thrown on any enemies. In this castle, in 1952, some scenes of the film "The Crimson Pirate" were shot with Burt Lancaster.
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Aragonese Castle, Ischia, Amalfi coast

Scaliger Castle, Lake Garda
It is one of the most complete and best-preserved castles in Italy. This castle, located in Sirmione, is a rare example of a lake fortification. The castle is bathed on all sides by the waters of Lake Garda. On one side there is the dock, on the other the imposing keep, with the cells intended for prisoners. The walls and the three main towers have dovetail battlements.
It is possible to access the walkways and also reach the top of the latter, as well as enjoy the splendour of the dock.
A sad legend of love wants Ebengardo's soul to roam the castle in search of his Arice on stormy nights.
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Scaliger Castle, Lake Garda

Castel del Monte, Puglia
It is certainly one of the most mysterious in Italy, it is a 13th-century building built by Emperor Frederick II, near the town of Andria.
Its octagonal plan with an octagonal turret for each edge suggests that Castel del Monte was built according to precise mathematical-astronomical geometries, as well as taking into account numerous symbolisms. It does not have any moat or military architectural element, it does not reside in a strategic position, it has narrow spiral staircases definitely uncomfortable for defence and escape functions, loopholes too narrow to throw arrows, no stables. Its unusual shape also seems to recall that of a crown.
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Castel del Monte, Puglia