Italy is renowned worldwide for its Renaissance architecture created by many notorious artists, monumental buildings, fashion, cuisine, and language.
The country has over 20,000 castles with each one holding its own history from medieval times.
Although most of the castles in Italy are in ruins, there are still many that have been perfectly preserved and are open for visitation today.
The 10 Most Beautiful Castles in Italy
1. Aragonese Castle
The Aragonese Castle was a fortress and royal residence built on a volcanic rocky islet next to the larger Ischia island which is connected by a bridge in NA, Italy.
Building work started in 474 B.C. and was completed in the 14th century.
Later, in the 16-17th century, the castle was renovated by the Spanish before it was taken over by a royal German family, the Habsburgs, who turned it into a place of punishment.
The castle has been included on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage sites.
Today, the castle is owned by the third generation of the Mattera family, who has opened it to the public, offering accommodation, museums with Renaissance art pieces dating as far back as the 17th century, restaurants with traditional cuisine, cafes, outdoor swimming pools surrounded by lush gardens, and breathtaking views.
The castle is a major tourist attraction for the area, often attracting thousands of tourists each year to the shores of Italy to come and view this masterpiece.
2. Sforza Castle
The Sforza Castle was a medieval fortress that was built during the 15th century on the remains of a 14th-century fortress by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan.
The interior was originally designed by Leonardo Da Vinci for use as a royal residence by the Sforza family, who ruled Milan during the Renaissance period.
The castle was later renovated and enlarged, making it one of the largest citadels in Europe.
Renovations were conducted during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The castle is now owned by the commune of Milan and houses several different museums, art galleries, and other exhibitions holding a collection of fine art open for visit and accommodation.
The estate also has restaurants with delicious traditional dishes, libraries holding ancient drawings and manuscripts containing notes from Leonardo da Vinci, large architectural parks, and gardens surrounding the inner yard pool.
3. Scaligero Castle
The Scaligero Castle is a lakeside medieval fortress that was built in the 13th century on Lake Garda in Sirmione BS, Italy, and used for a defensive function by the armory, troops, and royal residence known as the Scala family.
It is a fortress from the Scaliger era and is an amazing example of what lakeside fortification was at the time.
It is considered to be one of the best-preserved castles in Italy.
The state owns the castle today and it has been made into a museum open to the public for tourist attraction.
The castle has been an inspiration to artists for its magnificent architecture for many years.
The towers give you an amazing look-out view of the lake.
4. Belfort Castle
The Belfort Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect the districts of Andalo and Molveno, Italy, and is located in the municipality of Spormaggiore.
Building work started in the 13th century in TN, Italy, and was done by Tissone under the approval of Henry, Count of Tyrol.
The castle is in ruins today.
The castle has been owned by many families over the years but it is now unmanned and open to the public.
It was destroyed in a fire and considered ruined, but nevertheless, the exterior is still impressive to see.
5. Orsini-Odescalchi Castle
The Orsini-Odescalchi Castle is a medieval castle designed by Francesco di Giorgio Martini in Bracciano RM, Italy.
The castle is known to be one of the grandest and largest fortresses in the country.
Building work started in the 14th century by Napoleon Orsini and was completed by his son, Virginio Gentil.
Still owned by the Odescalchi family, the castle has been made open to the public for tourist attractions and even hosts major events like weddings.
The castle has a beautiful renaissance architectural design with an amazing scenic view overlooking the volcanic crater lake and remarkable gardens surrounding the estate.
Museums located in the building hold cultural heritage, antique art pieces, furniture, old weapons, and much more for you to see.
6. Castle Dell’Ovo
The Castle Dell’Ovo is one of the oldest medieval seafront fortresses in Napoli NA, Italy.
The castle was first built by the Normans in the 12th century to be used to defend the city and withhold the custody documents and treasures of those who were imprisoned.
King Charles of Anjou and his family resided here for over 50 years.
Not all parts of the castle are perfectly preserved, but it is still in good condition and is open to the public today.
It is definitely worth seeing the history that the archeological museums show with an elevator inside which takes tourists through the halls of the estate.
And, if you get hungry, there is a restaurant inside that offers seafood and many other delicious dishes.
7. Castle of Fenis
The Castle of Fenis is a medieval fortress built between the 14th and 15th centuries, on a small hill in Fenis AO, Italy.
The remarkable architectural design was inspired by the gothic style.
The castle was to be used as a prestigious royal residence by the lordship of Aymon of Challant and his family.
In the 18th century, renovations were started again on the castle and it was eventually donated to the state.
The castle has now been made open to the public as a tourist attraction, with many incredible things to see that will give you an idea of what life in the medieval manor was like.
Inside the castle, there are two upper floors that lead to the courtyards, which are completely surrounded by wooden porches leading to the two galleries, famous for their architecture.
They are entirely painted in the renaissance style, resembling the history of French mottos and wise men.
You can also take a look at the cellars and prisons in the basement, as well as the weapons room holding some of the original items from medieval times, the chapel, and a kitchen with a huge fireplace.
8. Castel Sant’Angelo
The Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built to be used as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadria and his family in the 2nd century.
The castle is in Roma RM, Italy, and is now owned by the Italian army, who have made it open to the public in the form of a museum.
The castle has been included on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites and is one of the oldest citadels in the country.
There are five floors to this magnificent castle, starting with the ground floor displaying a square with all of the medieval weapons moving to the first floor, which was meant to be a mausoleum but was stolen.
The second floor would be the prison and execution site.
The third floor is the museum that holds all of the furniture, paintings, most medieval weapons, and renaissance objects.
Finally, the fourth floor, which was said to be the apartments of the pope in case of an attack, and the fifth floor, which leads to the roof where the bronze statue of archangel Michael is displayed, and you can get a glorious view of Rome and the garden surrounding the estate.
9. Miramare Castle
The Miramare Castle is a royal residence looking over the crystal clear sea in Trieste TS, Italy.
It was built in the 18th century by the order of Archduke of Mexico, Ferdinand Maximilian Hapsburg so that his home would match his and his family’s lordship’s status.
The castle stands on top of a cliff and features many elements of gothic and renaissance design.
Since the 19th century, it has become a museum and has been made open to the public by the country for tourist attraction.
Inside, everything has been restored and refurnished with some of the original art pieces and sculptures.
The remarkable gardens and parks with fountains are free to roam around in.
It was clear that it would become one of the most famous landmarks of the area.
The castle has been included in the UNESCO sites
10. Castello del Valentino
The Castello del Valentino was built in the 16th century on the river bank of the Po in Torino TO, Italy.
It was to be used as a ducal residence by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy and his family.
The castle was included on the list of UNESCO sites.
The castle was designed to have two symmetrical apartments with an identical number of rooms but each with different themes.
The grand entry to the castle’s inner courtyard is completely made out of marble pavement and surrounded by neat gardens.
Inside there are spectacular amounts of renaissance architectural detail on the interior, with original sculptures and paintings placed all around the walls and ceiling.
There is a room that holds a herbarium (a collection of preserved plants) and a library containing ancient botanical prints that were collected by the duke and show his interest and passion for the outdoors.
Today the castle is open for visitation and is owned by the Polytechnic of Turin, one of the oldest and most prestigious public technical universities in Italy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any royal families currently in Italy?
The king of Italy was Umberto Nicola Tommaso Giovanni Maria di Savoia who passed away on June 2, 1946.
Just 10 days later, the monarchy was abolished by a public vote and Italy became a democratic republic after World War II.
What is the most visited castle in Italy?
The castle of Caccamo is one of the most astonishing and best-preserved fortresses in Italy, standing on top of a steep cliff about 521 meters above sea level.
Will Italy become a monarchy again?
No.
It is highly unlikely for Italy to become a monarchy.
The number of Italians who are happy being a republic is so large.
Besides, the current constitution forbids the attempt to change the form of the democratic republic government.
