Italy's most beautiful castles: top ten castles to visit in Italy

Posted: Tuesday 20 April 2010 by Alison

castellomiramare

The “Settimana della Cultura” in Italy celebrates some of Italy’s best and most brilliant culture and historical patronage. The “Castelli Aperti” or Open Castles event sees some of the country’s most beautiful castles and fortresses open to visitors, where Italians and international visitors can explore some famous Italian castles.

To be sure, there is plenty of material for a weekend dedicated to castle-visiting in Italy, although the structures are not as famous perhaps as the country’s churches. The Trivago site has put together a list of Italy’s favourite and most visited castles, starting with the Castello di Miramare on the Grignano promontory in Trieste. It was built in 1855 and is followed in the list by the older Castel del Monte at Andria, which dates back to 1240. Third on the list is the Castello dei Conti Guidi at Poppi in the Arezzo province.

Missing out on a podium place is Milan’s Castello Sforzesco in fourth spot. Strangely, for an international audience, it is followed by the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, making it to fifth. After the jump you’ll find the list of Italy’s favourite castles - see if you can’t visit somewhere different on some local advice when you’re next in Italy.