Italy boasts many treasured monuments and architectural beauties, however the castles are actually among the many most evocative when it comes to attraction. Perched on majestic mountains, immersed in fairy-tale landscapes or lapped by the waters, castles and fortresses inform us long-gone tales, on the border between actuality and legend.
The fortresses are similar to castles, fortification works consisting of a wall of appreciable thickness and towers. Typically, they’re present in very suggestive villages or historic centres, locations that deliver photographs of princesses, knights and battles to thoughts. Right here under is the listing of a number of the most fascinating ones.
Monteriggioni fortress, Tuscany
Due to its majesty and grandeur, the Monteriggioni fortress, within the province of Siena, has a pure vacationer vocation. Yearly, in reality, over 70,000 guests go to admire the well-known Tuscan fortress, which reveals itself in all its magnificence.
It’s no coincidence that one of the vital illustrious vacationers, who arrived from Florence, was so impressed that he devoted some verses to his most well-known work. We’re speaking about Dante, who was impressed by Monteriggioni for the enormous fixtures within the abyss of Malebolge, in Dante’s Hell.
Rocca Calascio, Abruzzo
Contained in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga Nationwide Park, at 1460 m, stands the Rocca di Calascio, within the province of L’Aquila. The imposing medieval construction, all in-built white stone, is among the highest in Italy. Perched within the mountains, it overlooks the traditional village under, now uninhabited. Its undoubted attraction has made it an ideal setting for a number of movies, together with the unforgettable “Ladyhawke” and “The Identify of the Rose”, but in addition the latest “The American” with George Clooney.
Aragonese Citadel, Ischia island, Amalfi coast
It stands on an islet and is related via a masonry bridge to the traditional Borgo di Celsa, at this time referred to as Ischia Ponte. Due to Alfonso V of Aragon, entry to the fortress is feasible via a tunnel dug within the rock. Earlier than then, it may solely be accessed by the ocean. The tunnel, 400 meters lengthy, is illuminated by excessive skylights which on the time additionally acted as “seals” from which boiling oil, stones and different supplies had been thrown at any enemies. On this fortress, in 1952, some scenes of the movie “The Crimson Pirate” had been shot with Burt Lancaster.
Scaliger Citadel, Garda Lake
It is among the most full and best-preserved castles in Italy. This fortress, positioned in Sirmione, is a uncommon instance of a lake fortification. The fortress is bathed on all sides by the waters of Lake Garda. On one facet there may be the dock, on the opposite the imposing maintain, with the cells supposed for prisoners. The partitions and the three predominant towers have dovetail battlements. It’s doable to entry the walkways and in addition attain the highest of the latter, in addition to benefit from the splendour of the dock. A tragic legend of affection needs Ebengardo’s soul to roam the fortress searching for his Arice on stormy nights.
Castel del Monte, Puglia
It’s actually one of the vital mysterious in Italy, it’s a Thirteenth-century constructing constructed by Emperor Frederick II, close to the city of Andria. Its octagonal plan with an octagonal turret for every edge means that Castel del Monte was constructed in line with exact mathematical-astronomical geometries, in addition to making an allowance for quite a few symbolisms. It doesn’t have any moat or army architectural factor, it doesn’t reside in a strategic place, it has slender spiral staircases undoubtedly uncomfortable for defence and escape capabilities, loopholes too slender to throw arrows, and no stables. Its uncommon form additionally appears to recall that of a crown.
The castles within the Niccone Valley, Umbria/Tuscany border
11 miles lengthy, the place Tuscany meets Umbria, the Niccone valley owes its title to the Niccone stream, a tributary of the Tiber which is positioned between Umbertide and Cortona. This lengthy, broad and quiet valley is a well known vacation vacation spot for selective travellers from all around the world. Alongside the valley stand out the peaks of castles and a few ‘borghi’, in different phrases, fortified villages, constructed in the course of the Center Ages. These constructions testify to the political and army stress by the Papal States for the growth of territorial neighbours.
The northern valley wall primarily resides in Tuscany from which, persevering with in direction of Umbria, it’s doable to see the exceptional ‘Castello di Pierle’ sitting on the most excessive western a part of this broad valley. Constructed on the japanese facet of Mount Maestrino, the imposing fortress dominates the fertile valley similar to an imposing eagle. Reaching the fortress, its peak seems virtually disproportionate to the modest dimension of the hill the place the fortress is positioned. Across the fortress, there’s a small church and a few outdated homes the place a couple of individuals stay in whole tranquillity along with some home animals.
The oldest fortress in the whole valley is the Lisciano Citadel, courting again to the Ninth-Tenth century. In-built 1202 by the Marquises of Monte, it was protected by Perugia after which returned below the Papal authorities in 1479. The fortress was additionally owned by the Marquises of Sorbello. Sadly, just a few ruins are left of this fortress at this time.
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The Sorbello fortress seems to be so completely different from the others as a result of it is among the only a few castles within the space that has Ghibelline traditions, as its crenellated towers display. The primitive bulk of this constructing dates again to the Tenth century, whereas the south facet dates again to the twelfth century; in 1600 it underwent radical modifications and first, it grew to become a consultant palace, then a villa as an alternative. Its historical past is carefully linked to the occasions of the Marquis de Bourbon of Monte S. Maria Tiberina. Contained in the fortress, the noble residences are stuffed with magnificent ceilings and chests of drawers. Attention-grabbing is the ready room, embellished with lovely Seventeenth-century work, and the throne room, the place the Regent dealt with justice.
The fortress of Reschio is positioned on the border between Perugia and Tuscany, within the municipality of Lisciano Niccone, on a hill about 3 kilometres from the general public street of the Niccone valley. Within the Center Ages, the fortress was lengthy disputed by the Lords of Perugia, Florence and Città di Castello for its location and varied housing models. Positioned inside a non-public property, the fortress grounds host a couple of luxurious villas accessible for vacation leases.
Leaving Umbertide, in direction of the path of Città di Castello alongside the Tiberina 3Bis, on the left seems in the midst of the greenery, the fortress of Montalto with its excessive tower. In historical occasions this fortress was a fortress of nice strategic significance for the defence of Fratta in opposition to the expansionist targets of Città di Castello.
Daniela De Luca is CEO at Dwelling in Italy. Dwelling in Italy is a luxurious villa rental firm providing excessive finish vacation villa experiences all through the perfect areas of Italy since 1993.
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