Top five castles

16 February 2017

Top five castles

History, myths and legends are just a few aspects of the wonder and beauty of the castles in our region. This short article presents a few of the most famous, unmissable places in a memorable trip to Friuli Venezia Giulia.

1. Miramare Castle

Miramare Castle is a white pearl dominating the Gulf of Trieste from a majestic, enchanting rocky promontory. Its beauty and allure derive not least from its history. It was built from 1856 to 1860 at the behest of Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria and was the residence of the archduke and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium. The castle rooms can be visited on a pre-set route which leads from the ground floor to the first floor. Visitors can see the original, sumptuous furnishings of the state rooms and private apartments, full of works of art, elaborate furniture and precious objects.

Miramare Castle - Trieste The castle has more than 20 rooms. Of particular note are Maximilian’s Rooms, including his bedroom furnished like a ship’s cabin, and the Throne Room. FREE with FVGCard

2. Villalta Castle

One of the most fascinating castles in the region, the small fort of Villalta boasts centuries of history and is set in a particularly beautiful landscape. It was built in the 10th-11th centuries, but was destroyed and rebuilt several times due to battles between contending armies seeking to conquer its strategically important position. Nonetheless, the castle retains its initial fortified layout, with a high tower and drawbridges so visitors immediately get an idea of what it was in the past, and lends a vein of plausibility to the legends which have always been associated with it.

Villalta Castle

3. Duino Castle

Legend has it that a White Lady was thrown, by her evil husband, from the ramparts of an ancient castle. Heaven took pity on her and gave her a body of stone before she hit the rocks. It is said that her soul is still here, in a cliff high above the bay, near the ruins of the ancient manor of Duino, and that some nights she comes back to life and wanders in distress.

Duino Castle When you look at Duino Castle set on a karst spur falling sheer to the sea and with a breathtaking view over the entire Gulf of Trieste, you can well believe that the White Lady really exists. But fear not, because the building’s beauty is magnified by the warm, happy atmosphere created by the presence of the owners, members of the princely House of Thurn und Taxis. The castle is open to visitors.

4. Arcano Superiore Castle

The 12th-century Castle of Arcano was built in a magnificently isolated position. It retains its evocative mediaeval aspect: Guelphic battlements, a characteristic double tower and a mighty keep with a row of elegant, late-Romanesque double lancet windows at the top. Not forgetting the interior, decorated and frescoed by Andrea Urbani, with a number of rooms having fireplaces and doorways by Raffaello de’ Raffaelli.

Castle of Arcano The castle was the setting for a strangely mysterious event in the 17th century, when Francesco d’Arcano stabbed his wife to death in a fit of jealousy. Her walled-up remains were found by workers during restorations in the early 20th century. This story gives the building an even more intense historical allure. Book a visit to the castle through the Consorzio per la Salvaguardia dei Castelli Storici del Friuli Venezia Giulia (association for the protection of regional castles).

5. Valvasone Castle

Valvasone Castle was very probably built over a late-Romanesque defensive structure; it was first mentioned in records in 1206. It has changed very little since and is still the original size, with a circular layout and a well in the inner courtyard.

Valvasone Castle A large gateway has replaced the ancient drawbridge and leads into the castle, which has frescoed rooms with stucco-work, its own chapel and kitchens with a vast fireplace. It is worth a visit just to see the unique and unusual 18th-century small theatre. You can book a visit via the Associazione A Spasso per il Borgo c/o Ufficio IAT, or go to the castle when it opens for special events.