The Dual Castles of Marostica in Veneto
Marostica in the Veneto region features two connected castles linked by an 1,800-metre wall, with a historic town centre centered on Piazza degli Scacchi.
Architecture
Aragonese Castle of Ischia: Medieval Fortress
Standing on a small island off Campania, the Aragonese Castle of Ischia features a 400-meter tunnel carved through rock and served as a filming location for a 1952 Burt Lancaster film.
Castel dell’Ovo: Naples’ Historic Fortress
Castel dell’Ovo, Naples’ oldest castle, has dominated the gulf panorama for centuries despite repeated reconstructions. An ancient legend attributes its stability to a magical egg hidden by the poet Virgil in its dungeons.
Scaliger Castle of Sirmione on Lake Garda
Presented in March 2019, Scaliger Castle in Sirmione, Lombardy, stands as one of Italy’s best-preserved castles and a rare example of lacustrine fortification, surrounded entirely by Lake Garda waters.
Castel del Monte: Italy’s Enigmatic 13th-Century Octagon
Built by Emperor Federico II in 13th-century Puglia, Castel del Monte defies classification as a traditional castle, featuring octagonal geometry, water systems, and possible origins as a royal bath complex.
Fénis Castle: Italy’s Best-Preserved Medieval Fortress
Fénis Castle in Val d’Aosta, one of Italy’s finest medieval fortifications, combines theatrical design with legendary symbolism. Its decorative walls, frescoes, and courtyard inscriptions reflect representation over defence.
Castel Sant’Angelo: Rome’s Fortress & Prison
Castel Sant’Angelo stands on the Tiber’s right bank near the Vatican, connected by a fortified corridor. Originally a mausoleum, it served as a papal fortress and prison with cells ranging from torture chambers to luxury accommodation.
Sforza Castle: Milan’s Fifteenth-Century Fortress
Built by Francesco Sforza in the fifteenth century on earlier fortifications, Sforza Castle stands as one of Europe’s largest castles and a principal symbol of Milan’s history.
Casa Comolli-Rustici, Milan, by Lingeri and Terragni
A residential building in Milan’s Isola district, designed by Pietro Lingeri and Giuseppe Terragni between 1934 and 1938 in the Rationalist style.