Castelgrande
On a rocky peak.
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The Castles of Bellinzona are a group of fortifications around Bellinzona, capital of the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland, about 22 km north of Lugano and 82 km north of Milan in a straight line. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The group is made up of three castles and the walls that link them: Castelgrande on a rocky peak above the valley, Montebello joined to it by the walls, and Sasso Corbaro, the highest, on an isolated rocky spur to the southeast. Routes from several Alpine passes between northern and southern Europe meet here, among them the St Gotthard and San Bernardino, which is why a fort stood on the Castelgrande rock as early as Roman times. Crenellated stone walls run down the green slopes between tall square towers, wrapping around the red-roofed town and vineyards below, with the southern Alps behind. From the walls of Montebello, Castelgrande and its two towers stand out above the town. A lift cut through the rock rises from a square in the town centre to Castelgrande, or visitors can take the stairs. A path links all three castles, and seeing them all takes about half a day.
On a rocky peak.
A view over the town.
The highest castle.
Bellinzona, Canton of Ticino, southern Switzerland
About half a day for all three.
By a lift cut into the rock, or the stairs.