Castello Malatestiano, Longiano, castle in Longiano, Italy
Castello Malatestiano, Longiano is a fortified site at the top of the old town center, with stone walls, a gate leading to an inner courtyard, and a viewing balcony over the surrounding hills. The structure sits beside a former noble residence that now holds an art foundation.
The site began as a small fortress mentioned in a document of 1059 and later passed to the Malatesta family in 1290, who strengthened its walls and towers. After Pope Leo X gave it to the Rangoni family in 1519, the building shifted from a military post to a noble residence.
In the small square just above the entrance gate, visitors can see a Venetian fountain from the 1500s that still marks the everyday heart of the castle. The nearby rooms now used for art displays keep the feel of a noble home while showing modern and contemporary works.
The entrance is reached by walking uphill through the old streets, and an elevator helps visitors with limited mobility reach the first floor. The inner courtyard is a good place to get oriented before exploring the rooms and the view from the top.
Beneath the castle, a large underground shelter was carved into the hill during the Second World War, where local families hid during air raids. Visitors can still enter part of this hiding space, which is easy to miss when looking only at the stone fortifications above.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
