The Most Incredible Fortresses in Italy

Perched on rocky mountains, nestled on green hills, or clifftop by the sea, these fortresses tell stories of noble families, family feuds, and power struggles. Built to defend borders against enemy attacks, these fortresses, scattered throughout the country, have often become beautiful Renaissance residences over the centuries, hideaways for passionate lovers, prisons, and more recently, museums. However, they are all precious testimonies of glorious past eras. Here are some of the most beautiful fortresses in Italy.

Just a few kilometers from Rome, stands the majestic Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, one of the most beautiful and imposing Renaissance residences in Europe. Constructed in 1470 around the old medieval fortress commissioned by Napoleon Orsini, the castle has undergone significant transformations over the centuries and has often found itself at the center of fierce disputes between Rome's most important noble families, such as the Colonna and the Borgia. Pope Alessandro VI Borgia even confiscated the castle in 1496. After the dispute with the pope, the Orsini regained possession of the castle, which was embellished and expanded. At the end of the 1500s, Giacomo Del Duca, a student of Michelangelo, implemented a series of renovations for the lavish wedding between Isabella de' Medici and Paolo Giordano Orsini. In 1696, the Orsini were succeeded by the Odescalchi, an ancient family from Como, whose prestige significantly increased when one of its members became Pope Innocent XI. Today, the castle is still owned by the Odescalchi but is open to the public and often used for events and receptions. Beyond the three outer walls, you will find 20 decorated rooms that provide a glimpse into the life that once unfolded here. The castle's art gallery houses a selection of paintings from the early Renaissance and a rich collection of weapons. The grand courtyard with its loggias, walkways, and gardens completes your visit to the majestic Bracciano Castle. DISCOVER: THE FORTRESSES TO DISCOVER IN WINTER

Near Faenza, you will find the Manfrediana Fortress or Fortress of the Venetians, a striking fortress perched on one of three rocky pinnacles overlooking the picturesque village of Brisighella, in the province of Ravenna. Built in 1310 by the Manfredi, lords of Faenza, the fortress remained with this family until 1500 when it was briefly held by Cesare Borgia. From 1503 to 1509 it belonged to the Venetians, who constructed the grand keep and two sides of the walls, later becoming property of the Papal State. Today, the fortress still preserves the characteristics of medieval fortresses: the openings for the chains of the drawbridge on the entrance door, the corbels and the loopholes, the walkways on the outer walls, and the arrow slits. The fortress is also home to the Museum of Man and Gypsum, which chronicles the long history of the relationship between man and this territory and the mineral that characterizes it.

The Aragonese Castle of Ischia stands on an islet that was likely formed 300,000 years ago due to an eruption. Connected to the ancient village of Celsa by Ischia Ponte, the castle was founded in 474 BC by Gero I known as the Tyrant of Syracuse. However, it was Alfonso of Aragon who brought about what is still called the Aragonese Castle in 1441. The 16th century was its zenith: on December 27, 1509, the cathedral of the castle hosted the wedding between Fernando Francesco d'Avalos and Vittoria Colonna. Completely abandoned, the castle was later revived thanks to the insight of a visionary lawyer from Ischia. You can find traces of its twenty-five centuries of history among churches, monasteries, prisons, and lush gardens. The belvedere, then, suspended between sky and sea, will leave you speechless.

Castel dell'Ovo is located on the island of Megaride, the land from which the history of Naples began. Connected to the mainland by a bridge that rejoins it to the Neapolitan waterfront, today the islet is known as Borgo Marinari and is one of the most picturesque spots in the city. Castel dell'Ovo is the oldest fortress in Naples. Its story begins during the Roman imperial age but takes its current form when Roger the Norman conquers Naples and builds the castle in 1140. Most subsequent realms used it as a prison or fortress to guard court treasures. Today it symbolizes the splendor and history of Naples and offers a privileged viewpoint over the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.BUY TICKETS FOR THE GUIDED TOUR OF NAPLES' ORIGINS WITH A VISIT TO CASTEL DELL'OVO

Rocca Calascio is located in the Gran Sasso National Park at an altitude of 1,460 meters. The castle, which dominates the Tirino Valley and the Navelli plateau not far from the Campo Imperatore plain, is therefore in a very favorable defensive position and was used as a military observation point communicating with other nearby towers and castles, all the way to the Adriatic. The fortress is attributed to Roger II of Altavilla after the Norman conquest of 1140. The structure, made of white stone, consists of a central keep, probably pre-existing, a crenellated curtain wall made of pebbles, and four circular corner towers. Rocca Calascio has been the set of numerous films, from Monicelli's Amici miei - Atto II to the more recent The American with George Clooney.

It is one of the most characteristic forts of the entire defensive wall of Genoa. Completed in 1758 by the Republic of Genoa right on top of Mount Diamante at an altitude of about 667 meters, the dominant position over the Polcevera and Bisagno Valleys, along with its distance from the city center, made the fort the city's first defensive stronghold against incursions from the north. The castle tells the history of the Republic of Genoa and the Habsburgs. In the spring of 1800, indeed, during the Austrian siege of the city, Forte Diamante was the site of violent fighting between the French and the Habsburg troops. Some Italian patriots, including the young poet Ugo Foscolo, also participated in the battle. Today, the fort is often a favored destination for hiking enthusiasts. Characterized by a pentagonal earthwork within which lies what was the three-story barracks, the castle will impress you with its position offering an exceptional panorama over the city and the Ligurian coast. On clear days, you can even see Portofino clearly.

The Fort of Bard, nearly intact since its construction, represents one of the best examples of a first-century barricade fortress. The stronghold consists of three main buildings, located at different levels between 400 and 467 meters: the lowest, the Opera Ferdinando; the middle one, the Opera Vittorio; and the highest, the Opera Carlo Alberto, totaling 283 rooms. Reconstructed in the 19th century by the House of Savoy on the rock dominating the village of Bard, the castle has now become an exemplary cultural center hosting not only temporary exhibitions but also several permanent museums. The fort is reachable on foot or via futuristic panoramic elevators starting from the village of Bard. If it seems like you've seen Bard's fort before, it's likely because you watched it in the Marvel film, Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, Castel Sant'Angelo is a fortress located along the right bank of the Tiber, whose construction began in 135 AD, commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, who wanted to use it as a mausoleum for his family. Connected to the Vatican State via the fortified corridor known as the "passetto," the castle has undergone several modifications during medieval and Renaissance times, but it has an unusual history compared to other monuments from the Roman period that were overwhelmed and reduced to ruins. Castel Sant'Angelo transitioned from a funerary monument to a fortified outpost, dark and terrible prison, and splendid Renaissance residence that saw Michelangelo at work, a Risorgimento prison, and finally a museum. Thus, the castle has watched over the fortunes and history of Rome for nearly two thousand years. Entering the castle, through a spiral ramp, you can visit the five floors where papal rooms are arranged, decorated with Renaissance frescoes, the chamber with the ashes, and the cells where illustrious figures were imprisoned, and finally a large terrace with a view of the city.BUY SKIP-THE-LINE TICKETS FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CASTEL SANT'ANGELO

18 km from Parma, in the municipality of Langhirano, is the Torrechiara Castle, built between 1448 and 1460 by the Magnificent Pier Maria Rossi. It is a 15th-century manor house, located on the summit of a rocky and panoramic hill, commissioned by Count Pier Maria Rossi as a powerful defensive structure and elegant love nest for himself and his lover Bianca Pellegrini. At Torrechiara Castle, everything speaks of their epic chivalric love: from the Golden Room, attributed to Benedetto Bembo, to the bridal chamber. Its defensive function is confirmed by three circles of walls and four corner towers, while its residential role is proven by the wealth of grotesque frescoes by Cesare Baglione. Among the most picturesque in Italy, Torrechiara Castle has captivated writers and directors and was the set for the famous film Ladyhawke.

The Albornoz Fortress is a massive fortress located atop the hill of Sant'Elia that overlooks the city of Spoleto and the Spoleto valley. Built starting in 1359, it is part of a series of fortresses desired by Pope Innocent VI to restore the authority of the Pontiff, who then resided in Avignon, in the central Italian territories of the Papal State. To carry out his project, the pope sent the powerful Spanish Cardinal Egidio Albornoz to Italy, from whom the castle of Spoleto takes its name, and entrusted Matteo di Giovannello da Gubbio known as "il Gattapone" with the direction of the construction work. The Spoleto fortress was, therefore, the cornerstone of the defensive system controlling the Flaminia and from which military actions were launched to recapture the territories of Umbria, Marche, and Romagna. Over the years, it also became the residence of the rectors of the duchy, the city governors, and the papal legates, enriching the fortress with decorations and frescoes, many of which were lost starting in 1816 when the structure was transformed into a prison, a function it held until 1982. The castle of Spoleto, rectangular in shape and defended by six imposing towers, consists of two courtyards, the Courtyard of Arms, originally home to the armed militia, and the Courtyard of Honor, reserved for administrators and governors, adorned with a hexagonal well and surrounded by a double loggia where numerous traces of papal coats of arms remain. Today you can visit the Courtyard of Honor, the Courtyard of Arms, the Honor Hall, intended to host ceremonies and banquets, and the Painted Room, which preserves two beautiful fresco cycles of a profane nature dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. The Albornoz Fortress is also known for having housed Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alessandro VI, who appointed her, at just nineteen, regent of the Duchy of Spoleto.

For centuries, the people of Milan considered the castle a symbol of tyranny and foreign dominance. Only with the Unification of Italy did the castle, transformed into a cultural center, become dear to the people of Milan. It was the Visconti family, lords of Milan, who requested its construction in the second half of the 14th century, but it was rebuilt in 1450 by Francesco Sforza I, husband of Bianca Maria Visconti, who made it his residence. With Ludovico il Moro, toward the end of the 15th century, the castle became one of the most lavish seats in Europe thanks in part to the works of Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci. Over time, it transitioned from a noble residence to a military fortification under Spanish and Habsburg rule. Finally, in the 20th century, the castle acquired the name "Sforzesco." Today, the castle houses civic museums and has held one of the largest art collections in Milan since the late 19th century. Among the various museums are the Pinacoteca, the Egyptian Museum, and the Visconti Rooms, as well as a museum entirely dedicated to Michelangelo's Pietà Rondanini.BUY TICKETS FOR THE GUIDED TOUR OF SFORZA CASTLE

The Scaligero Castle of Sirmione is an extraordinary example of lakeside fortification and one of the most spectacular and well-preserved Scaliger fortresses of Lake Garda. Built after the mid-14th century, it takes its name from the Della Scala family, who ruled over Verona and its territory during the 13th and 14th centuries. Completely surrounded by water, the castle still has a dock that once served as a refuge for the Scaliger fleet. Don't miss a visit to the cellars where you can find the wall remains of the Monasteriolo di S. Salvatore from the Lombard era.

A magical place 60 km from Bari. Castel del Monte is a 13th-century fortress built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the western Murge plateau, in Puglia, in the municipality of Andria. Elected a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the castle is known for its octagonal shape: on each of the eight points, there is a tower of the same shape made from quartz and local limestone. The castle's structure follows a geometric design reminiscent of a labyrinth, filled with symbolism that has intrigued many scholars. For instance, the irregular octagon on which the castle's foundation is based refers to the intermediate figure between the square, symbolizing the earth, and the circle, representing the infinity of the sky, thus marking the passage from one to the other. The construction is also imbued with astrological symbols, and its position was studied so that on the days of the solstice and equinox, the shadows created by the walls would have a particular direction. Due to the strong symbolism it embodies, some believe the castle could have served as a temple, perhaps a temple of knowledge, dedicated to the uninterrupted study of the sciences. Regardless, Castel del Monte is a fascinating architectural work, a synthesis of refined mathematical, geometric, and astronomical knowledge.BUY TICKETS FOR THE GUIDED TOUR OF CASTEL DEL MONTE

In Trani, under the rule of Frederick II of Swabia in 1233, a castle was built on the remains of a 10th-century tower, just steps from the famous cathedral, along the same seafront terrace. The Castle of Trani was constructed in the style of the Crusader castles of the Holy Land, which in turn were indebted to the Roman castra, featuring a quadrilateral plan. Then, under Spanish rule in 1533, the castle underwent significant transformations, primarily to accommodate new defensive weapons that arose with the invention of gunpowder. The light stone castle overlooking the sea features two monumental halls on the first floor, of Friedrich-era, a central core expanded by bastions, and the casemate body built during the Renaissance.

Buonconsiglio Castle is the most important monumental complex in Trentino Alto Adige and one of the largest fortified complexes in the Alps. Built for defensive purposes on a rocky outcrop, originally the site of a Roman castrum, Buonconsiglio Castle became the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Trento from the 13th to the late 18th century. It consists of a series of buildings from different periods, enclosed within a wall in a slightly elevated position compared to the city. Castelvecchio is the oldest nucleus, dominated by a massive cylindrical tower; the Magno Palazzo is the 16th-century expansion in the forms of the Italian Renaissance, commissioned by the Prince-Bishop and Cardinal Bernardo Cles (1485-1539); while the baroque Giunta Albertiana dates from the late 17th century. At the southern end of the complex is Torre Aquila, which houses the famous Cycle of the Months, one of the most fascinating cycles of profane-themed paintings from the late Middle Ages. After the end of the princely bishopric (1803), the castle was converted into a barracks. Restored, in 1924 it became the seat of the National Museum and since 1973 has belonged to the Autonomous Province of Trento. Today, it is the main center of a museum system made up of five castles, some of the most picturesque and prestigious in Trentino: to that of Trento refer the Castle of Stenico, in the Giudicarie Valley, Castel Beseno, in the Adige Valley, between Trento and Rovereto, Castel Thun in Non Valley, and Castel Caldes in Val di Sole.