Castello Brown, Medieval castle in Portofino, Italy
Castello Brown is a fortress on a hilltop overlooking Portofino's harbor with stone walls, defensive towers, and Mediterranean gardens planted with cypress trees. The complex blends military structures with residential spaces and shows different building periods across several centuries.
The site started as a Roman watchtower in the 3rd century and was converted into a Genoese fortress in 1425 under Tomaso Fregoso. In the 19th century the structure became a private residence and was decorated with church reliefs during the 1880s.
The place hosts art exhibitions and cultural events today, showing how military and domestic uses evolved together over the centuries. Visitors can see how the rooms transformed from military purposes to residential comfort.
You reach the site by walking up a sloped path from the harbor, which takes effort but leads directly to the entrance. The grounds are open for self-guided exploration of rooms, gardens, and viewpoints.
The walls incorporate church reliefs from the 1880s that were added during its conversion from a military fortress to a private residence. These artistic elements give the place an unexpected artistic dimension.
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