National Castle Days 2025: a journey through the most beautiful fortresses in Italy

They are a silent presence, but they enclose within their walls the past and history of the places where they are located. They are the Italian castles , built to guard villages and historic centers or as residences of ancient rulers. This year too you can visit and discover them on the occasion of the National Castle Days 2025 , an initiative promoted by the Italian Castle Institute to enhance the beauty and importance of these splendid fortified architectures.

The days, scheduled for May 10 and 11 , allow you to cross the threshold of 42 castles in 20 different Italian regions . But which are the most particular ones to discover? This is the selection signed by SiViaggia !

For the 2025 edition of the National Castle Days, Abruzzo celebrates the imposing Cantelmo Castle , built in the 11th century and the heart of the medieval village of Pettorano sul Gizio (AQ). With its presence it dominates the landscape of the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Regional Nature Reserve: on Saturday 10 May, you will have the opportunity to discover it by taking part in a guided tour that will allow you to explore not only the manor, but also one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

This castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of a white lady: according to the stories told, it is the ghost of Duchess Diana Gaetani D'Aragona, wife of Giuseppe II Cantelmo, Duke of Popoli and lover of the Knight Carlo Monaldeschi. Apparently every day, after sunset, her ghost wanders around the remains of the castle!

Located in Montefredane , in Piazza Municipio, the Caracciolo Castle is a majestic building of Lombard origin . The manor was very important in the medieval era as part of a defensive system that included the castles of Capriglia Irpina, Grottolella, Manocalzati, Montefusco, Montemiletto and Summonte.

During the Renaissance , however, the original structure was transformed into a noble residence. Over the centuries, the castle became the property of the various families that succeeded one another in the town, including the Capece, the Baldini, the Orsini, the Gesualdo, the Ludovisi, up to the Caracciolo, from which it takes its name. Usually only visitable by reservation, on the occasion of the National Castle Days it can be discovered together with a guide.

This is the perfect opportunity to discover the Rocca di Meldola which, closed for many years, has undergone some restoration work and will reopen to the public this weekend in view of the event. Situated on a rocky spur in the village of the same name, a few kilometers from Forlì, its existence has been known since the 11th century, although its origins are not known with certainty. In addition to the guided tours , available on Saturday 10 May , you can participate in a round table followed by an aperitif on the terrace of the fortress.

Particularly imposing, with its quadrangular mass and mighty cylindrical towers , the Castle of Sannicandro bears witness to centuries of history and power in the territory of Bari . Built in the Norman era, it was later modified by the Swabians and the Angevins, playing a strategic role. Its sturdy walls enclose an elegant internal courtyard, once animated by noble life, while the internal rooms, despite having undergone transformations over time, evoke ancient glories and medieval intrigues.

Finally, we recommend Forte Rivoli, a symbolic monument of the Veneto. Among those present in the area, none stands out like this one: for its spectacular scenographic prominence, for its particular architectural form and for the construction quality of the work. Furthermore, it offers an incomparable breathtaking view of the valley floor, which you can enjoy on 10 and 11 May 2025.

View this post on Instagram