Castles of Italy in Photos

Italy’s castles in photos: a mysterious octagon and a papal fortress. In Apulia, Castel del Monte stands alone on a hill. Emperor Frederick II built it in the 13th century as a perfect octagon with eight octagonal towers. Its purpose is still a mystery, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo began as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian. Later it became a fortress and refuge for the popes, linked to the Vatican by a covered passage. From its terrace, you get a wide view over the Tiber and St. Peter’s. All photos come from places we have visited and described. Open any place to see it on the map, check the weather and plan how to get there.